HOME PROFILE

WHO LIVES HERE

Charlotte Gueniau, founder and CEO of interiors brand Rice, her husband Philippe, co CEO of Rice, their two children Max and Selma, and their Labrador Stella

THE PROPERTY

A three-bedroom detached house in Odense, Denmark, built about 1912

LIVING ROOM

Charlotte’s design principle of balancing calmer elements with livelier pieces can be seen in the white walls and floors, against which the furniture and accessories sing. These include the Rice II Two Eijffinger wallpaper at Jane Clayton & Company, and upholstered chairs, sofa cushions, artworks and rug from Rice. The quilt is a vintage piece bought on her travels

‘ Just be playful. If you don’t like the colour of a wall, repaint it. A can of paint costs the same as a nice bottle of wine’

With an interiors career steeped in colour, fun and seasonal updates, Charlotte Gueniau, founder and CEO of Rice, was never going to have a lacklustre family home. And for her husband Philippe, and children Max and Selma there’s never a dull moment in this space, which Charlotte has filled with bold, bright colours, statement features and, most recently, a beautiful array of her own-designed contemporary wallpapers. ‘We originally moved here for very sensible and practical reasons – it was in the perfect location for the children to be able to get to school easily and hang out with friends as they grew up,’ says Charlotte. ‘We found the house via a real estate friend – it has high ceilings and plenty of space and that suited our needs at the time.’ Charlotte quickly filled the house with painted backdrops and functional and fun homeware from her collection. As the children grew and their needs changed, the house adapted, and in the same way the family’s shifts impacted on their home, Charlotte explains how her own style has developed as the children grew into their teens – and beyond. ‘When the children were young I was a big believer in using colour and paint as an easy way to update an interior, and when we first moved in, we did everything at once,’ explains Charlotte. ‘Now as we have all grown, my style is more curated – I’ve collected pieces over the years when travelling and I’m drawn to using more patterns to illustrate how I feel about an interior. I’ve really embraced using wallpaper as an instant feature idea in a room and work with the intricate designs to create interest or lift a dull space.’ Having loved the English country home look for a long time, Charlotte has always used her collections from Rice to great

effect in the house, marrying humour with homeliness, but it was her foray into wallpaper design with the Netherlands based textile and wallpaper company Eijffinger, which allowed her to bring more of her own creations to the walls. ‘I’ve always loved a maximalist, Bohemian clash of designs and patterns and find it fun to mix vintage florals with retro furnishings or intricate artwork with quirky motifs. My first wallpaper collection was small and featured understated designs with some fun elements, folk art themes and illustrations. By the time I launched the second collection I had really found my design feet and there are dots, spots, glitter and scatters of floral and petal patterns, which I love to include around my home.’ And, in fact, what is really striking about Charlotte’s home is that despite how much colour there is – and as the palette shifts depending on the season – everything seems to fit together. ‘I can throw all kinds of styles and shades into the mix here, and there’s enough light and space in the house for it to all work cohesively. There’s also a balance in every room. I’ve been careful to make sure to include some plain areas or textures so, despite there being so much to take in, it all blends together rather than fights.’ The fact that the family feel their home is still fresh and inspiring to live in after 10 years is very much down to Charlotte’s own style vibe. And having provided a such a lovely backdrop against which they have grown and blossomed, she is ready to take this on to the next stage. ‘I’ve loved every part of being in our home and am now embracing the “we are in the no toys, more party glasses” phase. We get so much enjoyment from sharing our home with each other, our friends and our family, and I think you get a sense of this as soon as you come in.’

See the Rice collection at ricebyrice.com

DRAWING ROOM Charlotte (top) has created a beautiful scheme, with her vibrant Rice II One wallpaper working perfectly with the room’s period details, adding drama without dominating. The Lady Grey sofa is from The French Bedroom Company, the sari cushion is a vintage find and the Monet rocking chair came from Sika Design

KITCHEN Rattan pendants with purple edges are pretty highlights in this colourful space. Painted bar stools offer a spot to relax, while practical shelving acts as the perfect display for Charlotte’s collection of Rice kitchenware

DINING AREA One of the family’s favourite places to spend time, this space is a mix of the practical and the fun, including comfy button-backed chairs – with pink-painted legs – and a long glossy table, above which hangs a selection of giant paper and glittery shades

DINING ROOM With an informal feel, this space doubles as an extra work and study area when needed. The chairs are from Cane Line, while lively pieces from Rice include the standout disco ball lampshade and plant pots

HALLWAY White woodwork and parquet flooring are the understated backdrop to this elegant space. Its period lines are emphasised by the pretty floral Rice II Seven wallpaper, beautiful chest and the mirror, which was bought on a trip to Paris, all finished off with a glossy green painted handrail

LANDING Plenty of colour and pattern and a bold artwork ensure this is not a space just for passing through MAIN BEDROOM Stained-glass panels, inherited from Charlotte’s mother, filter the light in this cosy space under the eaves. A rug from Rice sits on floorboards painted a soft watery blue gloss, while the stunning artwork is by Thai artist Attasit Pokpong FOR STORE DETAILS SEE WHERE TO BUY PAGE