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21/04/2026

Happy Tuesday. Anyone else pretty exhausted at the moment? It’s been a big month work wise for me. I have taken on coordination of the install of a very large and complex build and needing to keep tweaking designs as we go which is wild and exciting and I’m loving every minute but it’s mentally full on. It’s also ended up happening months after we’d initially thought and so it has coincided with another two design and installs working in collaboration with my pal plus I have helped her to complete three staging jobs in the last 7 days (basically turning an empty house into a fully finished house in the space of a day). And yesterday was a huuuge house and so today I am pooped. In an ideal world, all of these jobs would happen weeks apart but no builds stick to their schedule and when you’re in the hands of contractors planning life and work has to be taken with a pinch of salt. But! It has been a brilliant month. I am working with some wonderful people on exciting projects so I’m feeling super happy and grateful. And my hallway, after 8 years is almost finished and I even managed to plant some paper white bulbs before they turned to mush this year. Which I had to mention so there was some sort of link with this post. Although they actually smell pretty gross, so there you go.

21/03/2026

Can we talk about lighting?
It’s one of those things designers love for a reason — it can completely transform a space, and it’s actually quite easy to get right. The trick? More lamps. Honestly, that’s 80% of it. So if in doubt add another lamp. And for those interested in the other 20% of what makes a good lighting scheme read on.

Ok, actually there are many smaller details that can be applied so this is maybe 15%.. have to hold something back for my clients projects 😉

I treat overhead lighting as decorative rather than functional. It draws the eye up and breaks up ceiling space, but it’s not what I rely on day to day. Instead, focus on distributing light around the room — if a corner feels flat, add a lamp.
Height matters too. When you’re sitting, you want light at (or just below) eye level, not glaring down from above. Table lamps and floor lamps around seating areas bring the light to you, which instantly feels softer and more relaxed.
And always — turn off the overhead light.
Easy wins:
– Swap to warm white bulbs (or paint bulbs ochre for a softer glow)
– Go for lower wattage
– Layer your lighting — lots of it
I once heard the ideal is around 15 light sources per room — and yes, that includes natural light i.e windows and even mirrors, which bounce all forms of light beautifully.
If you’re renovating, add dimmer switches and consider floor plugs for larger spaces. I’ve used them under sofas to power lamps in the middle of a room — no trailing wires, just a warm, layered glow exactly where you want it. Which is what I did in this space.

20/03/2026

Decided my 2 minute flower arrangement deserved a space on the grid, as they used to say in the olden days. Actually, it’s my new but old vase that I’m most pleased with, it even came with a wire frog thrown in so all I had to do was slot in the stems and it magically all stayed in place. Best £10 I’ve spent in a while. Might take up flower arranging as my next midlife old lady hobby. ;)

05/03/2026

A long haul of coffee making and workmen on site but finally the paper is up and paint is down and all that’s left is to swop out lights and put things back together. The yellow handrail and paper gives me a hit of happy every time I see it. I wanted our hallway to feel uplifting and playful but also heritage and in keeping with the house. I’m not sure I can bring myself to allow the muddy shoes back into the hallway now. 😂

Design: Francesca Yarnit Design
Wallpaper: .36bournestreet
Paint:
Carpet:
Photo: Francesca Yarnit Design

01/03/2026

Missing this peaceful view from within my project which I completed last year. The simple materials and toned down palette created a soft and serene spot to allow the garden to become the focal point. I pictured long convivial lunches, doors flung open, music going, curtains fluttering in the summer breeze when I designed this dining area. Good to imagine fun times for a space :) Meteorological spring starts today so not long until we can fling open the doors. Can’t wait! 🌱✨

22/10/2025

Snippets of autumn from this week’s dog walks and my on foot commute to local jobs. Lots of thinking as this month marks five years since I set up my own design business. I can’t believe my luck to have had so many wonderful clients. I will never take for granted someone’s trust in working on their home, and it gives me so much pleasure. But I absolutely couldn’t have got to this place without such an army of fantastic friends and family supporting me because setting up a business is bloody hard work and there has been so much to learn and still is! Thanks a bunch to everyone who has helped me along the way and everyone who’s enlisted my help, it’s been a blast. Onwards and upwards. X

21/10/2025

Reviews like this are what makes the less fun bits totally worth it. Thank you for trusting me so completely with your home Matt and Liron. X

12/05/2025

Bathrooms are notoriously tricky rooms to design. Firstly there’s finding the right layout that makes the most of the space as well as making it practical and also look nice. There’s how to make the sanitary ware and all those hard surfaces look good and not clinical but remain functional. Not to mention making sure the unseen elements like pipework and electrics work, comply and are safe.

There are no hacks or tricks, it’s just a matter of careful planning, a clear set of goals and a basic understanding of plumbing/electrics (you can double check everything will work/be compliant with your plumber and electrician once you have a plan).

When I designed our bathroom earlier this year, I started by working out what I wanted from the space (a luxurious shower, bath under the window, a heated towel rail that served both the shower and bath, a nook for the toilet, a bigger sink and a pretty view from the hallway).

I also wanted to make it sustainable, and to me that meant reusing what we had (the chest of drawers, chair, mirror, marble tile samples and accessories), buying second hand (the bath and sink were Facebook marketplace finds, the boat came from a local reclamation and the tiny cabinet Vinterior) and avoiding shopping at Amazon or Victoria plumb for cheap fittings that would need replacing after a few years. Shopping like this has become increasingly important to me so I wanted our bathroom to be prove it’s possible to do something on a budget which will last and is mindful of its impact.

With my wish list in mind, I set about creating a 3D model and played around until I found a layout that incorporated all the elements I wanted and didn’t create any pinch points. I also used a moodboard to play with finishes and pieces to see how they worked together. The two got updated alongside each other as I changed elements until I was happy.

The fact the layout now feels obvious means I think it’s a good un and it’s such a joy using this space to get ready in the morning or to wind down at bedtime.

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http://Francescayarnitdesign.com/

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