Behind the Scheme - Inside the English Cotswold home of Sarah Kirk @godsavethescene
When Sarah Kirk, an American homemaker living in the Cotswolds with her husband and four children, began sharing glimpses of her home and family life on instagram, she quickly built an engaged following drawn to her thoughtful approach to homemaking and layered cosy interiors. Combining American colonial style with the timeless appeal of her English country farmhouse, Sarah's home is a reflection of slow living, family traditions and a love of beautiful fabric and wallpaper designs.
Rich in florals, collected antiques and carefully layered textiles, her interiors feel both elegant and effortlessly welcoming. An approach to decorating which I and many of our customers also adhere to.
We were delighted when Sarah choose our Indienne floral wallpaper and paired it with Serafina Stripe fabric for her bedroom, creating an interior that perfectly captures her signature country farmhouse aesthetic. In this interview, we talk about life in the Cotswolds, decorating with wallpaper and fabrics, the influence of nature on her home, and the art of creating interiors that are as personal as they are beautiful.
For those discovering you for the first time, can you tell us a little about your journey from America to life in the Cotswolds?
I grew up in suburban Maryland, in a very rural family home equidistant to Washington, DC and Baltimore. The landscape was very similar to where I am now, rolling farmland, very horsey, lots of lovely historic small colonial towns. After working for several years in museum administration, I came to London in 2010 to study. I met my husband, who grew up in the Cotswolds, and eventually we settled here too.
You describe yourself as “American-style homemaking” in your Instagram bio. What does that mean to you, and how does it influence the way you decorate and style your Cotswolds home?
My mother is a homemaker and was a teacher, she taught Home Economics at the local high school. So she is very creative and I learned a lot from her - sewing, baking, cooking, gardening, crafting. My father taught me how to use tools, and I would help him with whatever he was working on or repairing. To me, homemaking is quite literally making a home, it's the practical skills and a sense of self-sufficiency that you can build the things you need, and you can live a simple and fulfilling life from creating a home around you.
How would you describe your interior style in three words?
Comfortable, well-made, country
You’ve used our Indienne Wallpaper and Serafina Stripe Fabric in your bedroom, what first drew you to these designs and how did you envision them working together?
When I first saw Indienne, it seemed so familiar yet totally arresting. Sometimes patterns just jump out at me, and I have to find a way to work them into the spaces I have, and this was one of those instances of seeing it and then figuring out where it would work best. I could have put this design in so many rooms, it is as versatile as it is beautiful, but I decided on our bedroom. The scale and play of the pattern is so charismatic on its own yet amenable to other patterns, like curtains, lampshades, bedding. You could pair so many designs alongside the Indienne, and it doesn't lose any of its impact or charm. It's floral but has kind of a filigree feel to it. Serafina Stripe was the perfect balance for the canopy. When you see Milola fabrics in person you can just see how you could pair so many combinations together.
Many people are afraid of using lots of different patterns in a room. What advice would you give to someone wanting to create a characterful, layered interior without it feeling overwhelming?
When mixing patterns, I don't overthink it. I'm not an interior designer and I would never use a mood board or I would never lay swatches out on a table and test if they work well together. I just trust my eye, and I build a space slowly over time, bringing in what I like and throwing it in the mix. I think most people are afraid of "clashing" but then you'd be surprised your own taste probably wouldn't even allow for that, because we all like what we like!
Your home always feels incredibly personal. Are there any objects, antiques or collected pieces in your home that hold a special story or memory?
I think that is the highest compliment you can give to someone about their home. Homes by their very nature are incredibly personal. Our homes anchor us to our existence. I got that from Wind in the Willows. There is a chapter where Mole hasn't been home in a while and he stops in with his friend Rat and at first he is anxious about what his friend will think about his humble little burrow. But Rat takes such an interest, and compliments the space, and asks him to explain how he made it what it is. As Mole started to explain about every item, each piece of furniture, the story behind each possession, he warms to how meaningful it all is - the memories of where each thing was acquired, what a bargain that was, something that was passed down, something he had to scrimp and save up to afford, and that night he laid in bed and felt such a warmth surrounded by the items in his home, he felt his home was loving him back. It was such a touching passage in the story. And that is exactly how I feel in my house. I feel our home loves us back.
Pattern drenching and layered florals are becoming increasingly popular in interior design. Do you think there’s a growing desire for homes that feel more comforting, nostalgic and connected to nature?
I think we want to feel connected to our home, we are drawn to nostalgia, and that's where homes can be so comforting. I like a balance though, I like the things in my home to have a purpose, to be well-made but useful. Whether that's furniture, or pottery or jars or platters that I can grab off a shelf and use, or brushes and brooms and dishcloths that I use every day, they have a function, they are familiar, and pleasant to see laying about or displayed.
Finally, when you picture the perfect day in your Cotswolds home what does that look and feel like to you?
With four children, our home is busy and messy and it's always humming with activity. But if I can carve out a few moments everyday to accomplish something I've been meaning to do, or work in the garden for an hour or so, or create something or fix something that needs to be done, and by the end of the day have a lovely family meal, tidy up and make it into bed with everything back in its place, that was a really fulfilling, happy day.
If you're feeling inspired by Sarah's blend of American colonial and English country style, floral wallpaper and layered textiles you can browse our collection of luxury wallpapers and furnishing fabrics to bring the same timeless pattern and personality into your own interiors.