OK, so I've been meaning to give you a tour of interior designer Jessica Buckley's Edinburgh apartment since The Pink House first went live, but for some reason it just never quite happened. But maybe it's fortuitous I've saved this treat until now, because colour genius Jessica has just listed her flat on luxury short stay rental site One Fine Stay, meaning you can now actually stay there; click HERE for more info. So if this place blows your mind in the photos (taken by Douglas Gibb) - imagine if you got to wake up with that hand-painted wall behind your head? Drink coffee in the pink kitchen? Enjoy a cocktail on the Neisha Crosland zebra-striped sofa? You'd never want to leave, even if the Edinburgh Festival was in full swing.
Here's a room-by-room tour of Jessica's flat - which she shares with husband James - as a special treat for your eyes. And below I have a chat with Jessica about her decor inspiration, how to mix and match patterns, and why pink rules. For info on where Jessica sourced some of her stuff, scroll to the bottom of the post.
Hallway
A vintage Moroccan rug greets you as you enter Jess's flat
Sitting room
Pink and blue - a match made in interior heaven
Neisha Crosland Zebra velvet fabric on the sofa
Jessica painted and re-upholstered these second-hand chairs
Jessica's turquoise glass collection
Kitchen
The wall colour is very similar to Farrow & Ball's Middleton Pink
Rectangular black tiles look cool in this herringbone design
Master Bedroom
Pink buddies up with biscuit in the bedroom
Chinoiserie mural hand-painted by Jess Arthur
The En Suite
Jess cleverly lined the fabric with waterproof shower curtains
Guest Bedroom
The canopy makes this room extra special
Ikat cushions add a finishing touch
Symmetrical lamps and a wicker tray keep things neat
The Study
Jess keeps her fabric samples in these drawers
Jessica's taste in footwear is just as excellent as her taste in home decor
EM: Hey Jessica! Thanks for sharing your beautiful home with my Pink House guests. So what attracted you to buy this apartment in the first place?
JB: I pounced on this flat the moment it came on the market. I think it was listed and offer made in less than 24 hours. It was just what I’d been looking for: a Georgian flat in the Edinburgh New Town with 2.5 bedrooms that wasn’t already “done”.
EM: What was the starting point for the whole design?
JB: It all came more or less at once as I’d been collecting inspiration images for quite some time - even before moving to Edinburgh! I knew I wanted a deep blue grasscloth wallpaper in my sitting room and the Neisha Crosland “Zebra” on the sofa so I suppose they were the very first things I decided upon.
EM: Which room are you most proud of and why?
JB: Moving the kitchen to the front of the house where it would be south facing and get the best light was a good move. Decor-wise, the sitting room draws the most attention as it’s a riot of colour and pattern and yet it is actually a very relaxing room to be in.
EM: How do you ensure the patterns you use always work so well together?
JB: There’s no magic formula I’m afraid. I try to mix types of pattern: floral, geometric, stripes. Also, I consider scale of pattern (small pattern mixed with a large scale pattern works better than two mid-sized patterns), and if in doubt I add more pattern. Two patterns can sometimes look disjointed yet magically three or four can look cohesive.
EM: What’s your favourite colour combination?
JB: Blue, white and pink is a combination I’m attracted to again and again. It looks so fresh and pretty to me.
EM: Should everyone have a pink kitchen?
JB: Ha! I’m sure it’s not for everyone and more than a few eyebrows were raised when I said I was painting the kitchen pink. Soft pink is a wonderfully pretty colour both day and night and I do think people should consider pink for their wall colour more often.
EM: What do you always hide when guests come round?
JB: Laundry and the clothes drier. A house with a proper laundry room would be the dream!
EM: What’s your signature cocktail?
JB: A peach Bellini made with Cipriani Bellini mix & prosecco. It is utterly delicious and the most pleasing shade of coral pink!
EM: Does James have any design input?
JB: I met James after everything was decorated so I’m afraid he had zero input on the decor. When he moved in he set up a bar and installed a coffee machine - very welcome additions!
EM: What’s in your Edinburgh little black book of great places to go?
JB: There are quite a few “finds” in my house procured from the various antiques and junk shops on Dundas Street: mirrors, vases and artworks have all come home with me. It’s great to find a rare or one-off piece with some character to add to a room.
EM: Jess, thanks so much for sharing your home with The Pink House guests; hopefully some of them will get to experience it in real life through One Fine Stay! Can we have a Bellini now please?
JESSICA’S SOURCES
Hall
Walls painted in Rectory Red – Farrow & Ball
Sitting room
Chinese Chippendale dining chairs - Jessica painted and re-upholstered these second-hand
Tablecloth fabric – Ian Mankin
Spot print – Damien Hirst
Spectrum rug – The Rug Company
White silk curtain fabric – Henry Bertrand
Blueberry grasscloth wallpaper – Phillip Jeffries
Zebra sofa fabric – Neisha Crosland
Kitchen
Table – Julian Chichester
Misia blind fabric – Manuel Canovas
Wall lights – Vaughan
Bedroom
Handpainted mural by Jess Arthur
En Suite
Shower curtain fabric (backed with waterproof fabric) – GP&J Baker
Metro wall tiles – Walls and Floors
Guest Bedroom
Walls painted in Polka Dot claypaint – Earthborn
Fabrics used to make the canopy – Beauregard by Manuel Canovas, lined with Samos, by Vaughan
Ikat cushions – buy similar at Jessica Buckley Interiors
