PERSONAL TOUCHES
Corporate lawyer and digital creator Mallory Coxe on how she created a peaceful retreat for her family in the scenic Nottinghamshire countryside
Home is… where me and my husband Mike can pause from the fast pace of life with our two-year-old son Barney and labrador Luna.
My interior style is… modern Nordic. I love neutral, minimalist decor with low lighting and natural textures like rattan and jute. I stick to a Scandi colour palette of grey, off-white and pops of green, which represent our love of the outdoors.
I moved here for…. the views. We moved to this new build in 2018, attracted by the surrounding countryside and the fact it was a blank canvas. I grew up in a village like this. My parents transformed an old cobbler’s shop into a family home and I have fond memories of the space we had growing up – full of corridors to explore.
Visitors love… how inviting and stylish our home is. Friends and family are always complimenting our interior choices. I don’t follow trends or rules, I just focus on creating spaces that feel well balanced and relaxed, and include furnishings I’m drawn to.
At home you’ll find me… under a blanket on our sofa or in the matching cuddler chair, which is in the bedroom. I’m a busy working mum and sometimes, when I’ve put Barney to bed, I just want to light a candle, enjoy a hot drink while listening to a podcast or diving into a new book. The cuddler chair is ideal for this.
A great sofa should… be a place of relaxation for the family to read, play a board game or watch a film. Before we moved in, we sold our old sofas and spent the interim enjoying a pair of vintage wing armchairs. As much fun as that was, nothing beats having a corner sofa to sink into together.
My best home purchase is… our Sage coffee machine and DFS French Connection Zinc sofa with matching footstool and cuddler chair, of course. Aside from big-ticket items like these, I prefer to shop secondhand. I’ll gather inspiration from Pinterest before checking out local sellers’ websites. I’ve picked up a lot of lovely rattan pieces this way.
My best decorating advice is… to consider the atmosphere you’d like to enter when you walk in the door. I used to love bold colours but I realised I wanted to feel relaxed at home, so I gradually started to bring in more soothing tones. My priority now is to always create a sense of calm and contentment. I have a hectic career, so I really need my home to be a space where I can unwind.