As I traipse about London, England, popping into the most glorious design showrooms and lingering in each, I’m truly invigorated and inspired by the rich and colourful tapestry of fabulous textiles, luscious wall coverings and shimmering lighting. Undeterred by the snow (after all I’m a Torontonian!), the smallest trace of which seems to bring the city to a complete standstill, I’m driven to scour the city in search of the finest in European design.  Never do I have to look further than the next block ahead, as each street seems home to yet another exquisite shop. Beaumont and Fletcher, located in Chelsea, an area of south-west London, England, is no exception as their furnishings are distinctive, unique, enduring in design and utterly English.  Swathed in scrumptious fabrics, their furniture is comfortable, elegant and opulent, with an attention to detail that is rare in the industry. They  specialize in creating custom made fabric panels, embroidered to the clients’ specifications. This service truly fits the English word bespoke, which means custom made.

I had a wonderful chat with John, the owner, and his lovely showroom manager, Jana. I spoke to Jana about the North Americans’ penchant for gray and beige interiors and their fear of infusing their homes with colour and pattern, lest they be considered different. She was perplexed as to why people didn’t want to differentiate themselves and I ask that same question myself. The intent of my magical mystery tour of England is to give you, my readers, a glimpse into the world of  design, with the goal of inspiring you to let loose, to think outside the box and to embrace colour and pattern, as the Europeans have done for centuries.