For designers, these pieces are more than decorative finishing touches, they’re the things that ground a room, spark inspiration and define a sense of home. We asked five interior designers to share the objects they couldn’t live without, and the result is an edit of timeless essentials, sentimental finds and beautifully considered everyday luxuries.
01
Anna Hewitson, Hewitson Design
My grandmother’s late 18th-century Scandinavian chest of drawers sits in our sitting room at home and is one of the pieces I treasure most. I love the warmth and craftsmanship of it, from the figured mahogany and marble top to the subtle neoclassical detailing, but also the sense of history and story it brings to the house. It’s the kind of piece that makes a home feel layered, personal and lived in.
02
Gayle Westwood + Tiffany Brent-Smith, Studio Zaffre
We share a love of art and agree undoubtedly that we couldn’t live without our art collections. Neither of us collect for investment – most of our pieces are inexpensive but deeply meaningful. Together, our collections include framed sketches and embroideries, flea market and eBay finds, and small works collected on our travels over the years. We love the idea that thoughtful framing can transform even the humblest piece into something special. Art brings colour, pattern and emotion into a room. Most importantly, it brings a personal touch, making a house feel like a home. Best Framers? These guys are excellent – https://ghframing.com/.
03
Alice Palmer, Designer
My Florence Hutchings Painting. I bought this painting by Florence Hutchings whilst staying with my friend Mercedes Workman in Margate a couple of years ago. I love the scale of this piece, it comes in two pieces and currently sits in my bright yellow, North facing sitting room. The bright colours, mixed media style and how it is just quite ordinary things that Florence has used as the subject matter definitely drew me to the piece and I’m so happy to have it in my home.
04
Alexandra Young Design
When I think about the one thing in my home I couldn’t live without, it has to be a comfortable bath. For me, the bathroom should be the one space in the house that instantly encourages you to exhale and unwind. Slipping into a deep, warm bath with some luxury bath oil and a lit candle is one of life’s simplest luxuries, a chance to properly switch off, reset, and enjoy a quiet moment of calm at the beginning or end of a busy day. It may feel like a rather old-fashioned and particularly English ritual, but it’s one I truly cherish, and something many of our clients value deeply when we get it right for them. Bathrooms should never feel purely functional. They should serve as personal sanctuaries where thoughtful design can genuinely enhance how we feel at home. Whenever space allows, I also love incorporating a double vanity into our projects. There’s something incredibly satisfying about the symmetry it creates, particularly when paired with statement mirrors, elegant lighting, and beautifully crafted cabinetry and hardware. Photographed-by-Patrick-Williamson.
05
Lissi Webber Interiors
As an interior designer, people often assume I couldn’t live without something grand or investment-worthy in my home: a designer sofa, or Murano vase. But the object I couldn’t live without is far simpler: a vintage wooden stool. A truly versatile piece, that can move endlessly around a home. A vintage stool can act as a side table by the bath for a towel, book or candle, or a perch from which to bathe the kids. A place for your coffee, or additional seating for extra guests within a living area. Sometimes I use them purely for aesthetic, to add a point of interest or texture and warmth to a space. There’s something deeply comforting about the imperfections in old wood, the markings, softened edges and patina that only come with time. Plus, the more you use them, the better they look. In a world where we’re constantly consuming and upgrading, vintage pieces tell a different story. Buying vintage is an effective way to make your home feel unique, while also being more conscious.
