The Very British Edit: What Living in London, California, and on the Hampshire Coast Taught Me About Creating a Relaxed Summer Home

The Opening Note

This week on The Very British Edit, I’m focusing on one of my favorite seasonal rituals – refreshing my home for summer. There’s something about this time of year that always makes me want to throw open the windows, lighten everything up, and make my spaces feel a little more relaxed. I don't know about you, but after months of grey skies and heavier interiors, I’m more than ready for longer evenings and sunnier days. Summer has always been my favorite season – even if my seasonal allergies (and unwanted penchant for attracting mosquitoes) insist on reminding me of that every year.

I divide my time between West London and Lymington on the Hampshire coast, and I think that naturally shapes the way I decorate. I’m constantly drawn to interiors that sit somewhere between city and country living – polished but relaxed, elegant without feeling overly formal. The pieces I gravitate towards tend to work beautifully in both settings, whether they're in a London townhouse or a coastal apartment situated opposite the Solent.

I also find myself drawing inspiration from another place that still influences my style today – Los Angeles. I lived there around 16 years ago, and while my life looks very different now, I still think about the effortless way Californians decorate. After all, California casual style still dominates the way I style today.

Weekend trips to Santa Monica, lazy afternoons along the Orange County coastline, and homes that blurred the line between indoors and out left a lasting impression on me. There was a relaxed confidence to those spaces, with light-filled rooms, natural textures, faded coastal colors, and an emphasis on comfort without sacrificing style. It's a look I've carried with me ever since – and rarely ever stray from.

As the seasons change, I tend to make small adjustments rather than completely redecorating. In my experience, the most effective updates are often the simplest. A linen throw replacing a chunky knit, lighter curtains, a woven basket, or a few carefully chosen accessories can completely shift the mood of a room. It’s less about buying lots of new things and more about editing your home so it feels in step with the season.

One look I come back to every summer is a soft coastal palette. Not the obvious beach-house version, but something more timeless and understated. Think chalky whites, sandy neutrals, muted blues, soft greens, and natural wood tones. It’s a color scheme that feels equally at home in a London living room, a Hampshire coastal retreat, or one of those laid-back California homes I still think about.

Materials matter just as much as color. When it comes to sourcing the perfect summer decorating ideas, I naturally swap heavier textures for linen, cotton, jute, rattan, and lighter woods. They bring an ease to a room that feels effortless and unfussy, which is exactly what I want at this time of year. Even a few small changes can make a space feel noticeably fresher.

Lighting is another thing I pay closer attention to at this point in the year. Summer evenings call for softer, more ambient lighting ideas – table lamps, lanterns, candles, and portable lights that create atmosphere without feeling heavy. It's often these details that make a home feel welcoming long after the sun has gone down.

In this shopping edit, I’ll be sharing some of the pieces I’ve been drawn to lately, from cooling textiles and natural materials to coastal-inspired accents that bring a little of that relaxed seaside feeling indoors. They’re the kinds of updates I use in both my London and Hampshire homes, with a subtle nod to California too, and they prove that creating a summer-ready space doesn’t require a complete overhaul – or a huge expense.

Redecorating at this time of the year has never been about chasing summer decor trends. It’s about making your home feel lighter, brighter, and more connected to the season outside. Sometimes the smallest changes are the ones that make the biggest difference.

The Edit: Summer Decor

In the Queue

Next week on The Very British Edit, I'll be turning my attention to something that's become a genuine obsession over the past year – indoor plant styling. It may sound like a departure from my usual decorating discussions, but I promise there's a reason. I've come to think of houseplants not as accessories, but as design elements in their own right.

I've always appreciated houseplants, but recently my interest has grown into a full-blown collection. What started with one or two plants has somehow turned into monsteras, peace lilies, Boston ferns, spider plants, ZZ plants, and a Christmas cactus dotted around my homes (both London and Lymington). And honestly, I can't imagine my spaces without them now. They bring a softness and sense of life to a room that decor alone can't replicate.

As we move from late spring into summer, I find myself relying on indoor plants more than ever to refresh my interiors. While it's tempting to update a room with new colors or accessories, greenery offers a different kind of transformation. A plant instantly makes a space feel fresher, calmer, and more connected to what's happening outside. It's one of the easiest ways to embrace the season without redecorating.

What I've learned over the past year is that styling plants is just as important as choosing them. A large monstera can anchor an empty corner beautifully, while trailing spider plants and Boston ferns help soften shelves and bookcases. Even something as simple as a pot of fresh herbs on a kitchen windowsill can add texture, fragrance, and a little everyday joy.

I'll also be sharing some of the pieces I've been looking at lately that help elevate indoor plants from practical additions to design features in their own right. Think beautiful ceramic planters, sculptural plant stands, hanging planters, and stylish grow lights that help greenery thrive while looking good at the same time.

The older I get, the more I appreciate the subtle ways a home can evolve with the seasons. Houseplants have become one of the most effective tools for doing exactly that. They don't just add color or fill empty corners – they bring movement, texture, and a sense of well-being that makes a home feel more welcoming. And at this time of year, when everything outside is flourishing, there really is no better moment to bring a little more greenery indoors.

The Very British Edit is a shoppable guide to beautiful living with a distinctly British twist. From heritage patterns to timeless decor inspirations, each edition blends personal insight, design expertise, and a love of craftsmanship. It is stylish, trustworthy, and endlessly inspiring.