PAGE 2 | WILLOW CROSSLEY
FEEL AT ONE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT Feel at one with the environment by introducing earthy colors—shades of cream, beige, ecru, flax and ochre, evocative of a land or seascape. Channel Crossley’s fondness for “green everything” through tones that hint at plants and trees or use stems and bunches to give rooms subtle daubs of color. Crossley is an advocate for “very wild and natural flowers” and recommends finding “a great local grower”—this will cater for any seasonal flower flights of fancy. She loves “peonies, Solomon’s seal, dicentra and philadelphus”, and “David Austin roses, dahlias, tulips, Alchemilla mollis, Verbena Bonariensis, geraniums, foxgloves and sweet peas”, for a quintessentially English country garden. “I include a selection of shapes, spires, fillers, and a main leading lady, and vary the heights.” Going faux? In this instance, Crossley suggests mixing in artificial blooms “with real foliage to make them look more realistic”. Heighten your connection to all things naturerelated through wooden furniture and accessories crafted from natural fibres. This extends to organic fabrics and, in Crossley’s case, “driftwood lamps that make you feel as if you’re semi-outside”.
