A first look at Nottingham Cottage, where Prince
Harry and Meghan Markle will live, and who we think should decorate
it for them
This morning Clarence House announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry in Spring 2018, with the couple set to live in Nottingham Cottage, the idyllic Christopher Wren designed house in the grounds of Kensington Palace that has been Prince Harry's bachelor pad since it was vacated by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, for whom it also served as a first marital home.
Camera Press / Snowdon Archive
Nottingham
Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace. Where Prince Harry and
Meghan Markle will live.
Historic Royal Palaces
Kensington
Palace
But the big question is, of the wealth of wonderful
interior designers currently working in the UK, who is the best
person to decorate it for them? Judging by an earlier piece we
published on Meghan Markle's Toronto apartment, her tastes
are contemporary and she likes comfortable, neutral spaces.
So in honour of their engagement and her
imminent move to the UK, these are the interior designers who we
think would best fit the bill. The ones with a certain cool, who
know how to balance the old and the new with style and
flair.
Who should decorate Nottingham Cottage?
The queen of refined, sophisticated interiors, Rose Uniacke's serene colour palette and
exquisite eye for antiques may appeal. She is also the interior
designer of choice for that other branch of British royalty, the
Beckhams.
If you want a decorator whose work typifys the moment in British decorating, Christopher Howe is your man. The respected antiques dealer and furniture designer only recently began to branch in to interior design. We'd love to see how this worked out.
Take a look at more of this tiny barn decorated by Christopher Howe
Paul Massey
Harriet Anstruther's style is old school
English with a laid back attitude and a subdued colour palette. Her
interiors have a certain prettiness that has echoes of Megan's Toronto apartment.
Ngoc Minh Mgo
Rita Konig
Having worked between London and New York for most of
her career our columnist Rita Konig treads the balance
between north American comfort and English wit. We think this could
be an interesting match.
Paul Massey
Stephan Eicker's work is uplifting,
comfortable and atmospheric. 'I am inspired by classicism but
always like to give a modern edge to a space, without making it
overpowering.' We love pretty much everything he does.
Rachel Whiting
If they want something a little more creative and
playful, Swedish-born UK-based Beata Heuman is one of
the coolest young decorators working in the UK right now.
Scandinavian attention to detail coupled with English whimsy.
Imaginative, lovely interiors.
Rachel Whiting
If we were in the market for a quintessentially English cottage Emma Burns of legendary British decorating institution Sybil Colefax & John Fowler is the woman we would want to decorate it. Take her own house (below) as a case in point.
Inside Emma Burns' converted stable block | Emma Burns' dream reading room
Paul Massey
Robert Kime is one of the country's most
eminent decorators and has worked on homes for numerous members of
the Royal family including Prince Charles. Known for his eclectic
schemes that make formal rooms livable and inviting, his signature
look couples significant antiques with traditional textiles.
Tessa Traeger
Renowned for creating a distinctive, playful style
that draws inspiration from historical interiors of every period
and infuses them with a fresh modern sensibility, the architect and designer Ben Pentreath has
worked on homes for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Could Harry
and Meghan be next?
Simon Bevan
Adam Bray's work is luxurious, eclectic,
unpretentious and based on a deep interest in comfort and
practicality that we think could appeal to the stylish young
couple.
Chris Tubbs
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