#4 Earthy brown

In this cottage on a farm outside Worcester, earthy colours dominate. Designer Juanita Lacock worked closely with the architect when a bedroom and en suite were added to the original cottage. The exposed klinker brick wall – the home’s old exterior wall – adds to the warm, lived-in feel of the new space. “Earthy colours always create a sense of warmth and in this getaway cottage, a homely atmosphere was essential,” Juanita explains. “When I was greeted by two zebras one morning, I knew I had to add a touch of black as well.”

It works because…

TEXTURES range from a brick wall and wooden floor to accessories in leather and dark, contemporary shutters.

AUTHENTIC ACCESSORIES enhance the lived-in feel; these include lights from an antique store, bedside cabinets from a previous house and antique lampshades. Any authentic décor piece, even one as small as a soap dish, adds to the atmosphere.

OLD AND NEW items are combined for a contemporary look. Trendy charcoal-grey aluminium shutters, instead of wooden ones, strike the perfect balance.

The headboard and lights are beautifully offset against the brick wall. The homeowner received the karos blanket on the bed as a gift from his father when he was a teenager – it serves as a fond reminder of his childhood. Shutters from Plantation Shutters