Elizabeth Petrides On Creating Joy In The Living Room & Her New Collaboration With Emma Bridgewater

In our Staying In With column, we ask the experts of interior design to tell us about their ultimate night in. Here, we speak to Elizabeth Petrides, founder of nature-inspired lifestyle brand Elizabeth Scarlett, about the yellow living room at the heart of her family home, the story behind her favourite sofa, and her new collaboration with Emma Bridgewater.

Staying In With Elizabeth Petrides

Elizabeth Petrides

What’s your favourite place to stay in, and why? 

My happy place is the yellow living room at the back of our house. Yellow is a colour that always brings me such a positive feeling, inspiring happiness, joy and creativity – it’s also the space in the house where I feel closest to the outdoors. When the weather allows, I love opening the big doors and dashing out with my sketchbook, paints and a cup of tea – dreaming up my designs out in nature.

Is this a space you like to host guests in, or wind down in?

It’s just between the kitchen and the garden, so whether it’s summer or winter, casual or formal – there’s a really nice flow to it that feels perfect for hosting. The dining table is really the heart of the space, it has so many lovely memories of gathering friends and family around for dinners (and hopefully lots more to come).

How have you set it up? 

Hidden storage for the TV is brilliantly practical – but I wanted it to be pretty, too. My husband Alex actually designed it on Powerpoint with no carpentry experience, so there’s a sweet story behind it (and now we get friends asking for his help!). It hides away the TV during the day, but there are shelves and display sections so it still feels integrated into the rest of the room when it’s closed, and not too much like a cupboard. I love that it displays all of the memories and trinkets from our travels, making our lives an intentional part of the design.

When it comes to a cosy night in, I love our big Sophie Conran sofa. It has the most uplifting Sanderson print, and it’s comfortable and roomy enough for the whole family – very important with two young children and movie nights!

Tell us about a ‘wow’ feature that you love to show off? (Or like to keep to yourself!)

I have a magpie-like tendency to collect details from nature to inspire my designs: shells, pressed florals, flowers gathered from the garden. You’ll find lots of them in my home too: my shell mirror from Mrs. Alice is a real favourite. It’s so detailed and feminine.

I also have to mention Jess Wheeler, who casts the most beautiful plaster light sconces from nature that are so beautifully textured and detailed. You can really feel the love of her medium and craft in each design. Our sconces are cast from a chard leaf; I love the touch of nature they bring in.

Josephine Dessine creates such delicate, unique plates that are works of art and look beautiful hanging on a wall. There are the most beautiful nature elements woven into each design, from The Earth to The Lovers, transforming each illustration into a little piece of storytelling.

What was your best buy or investment for that space, and why?

What makes something an ‘investment piece’ for me has definitely shifted. It used to be about luxury, style and design – but now with family life it’s definitely about quality, versatility, and the kind of pieces you love and live with every day.

My Sophie Conran sofa is the definition of that piece. The fabric is such a beautiful, artistic design, but it’s also the perfect size for a room where Christmas, Sundays and family life happens. I’ve thrown different cushions on it over the years, and they always look great. Plus, I don’t have to be too precious about it; the print hides any wear, tear and spills along the way. I still love it as much as the day I bought it.

Is there anything on your wish list?

I always keep my eyes open for treasures on travels and trips to antique markets. I look for things that remind me of a place or inspire a new design – whether it’s a plate from a French flea market, a trinket that reminds me of my travels to Kenya (where I honeymooned, and where we support the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust‘s incredible conservation work in the Tsavo national park), or a shell collected from a walk along the beach. I love details that hold stories and character.

Vintage lamps are also a current favourite. They’re such an easy way to add character to a corner, and bring that cosiness and warmth as the days draw in. I’m looking forward to having a really beautiful one as the kids get older (and when there’s less of a chance it’ll be knocked over while they’re putting on a show!).

What does the space say about your personal design style?

Nature, wildlife, and artistry play a big part. Which reflects the role that they play in my business, and personally in my life; a thread I return to time and time again. To me, they are very interconnected, so it feels easy to bring those elements into my home. Pictures and artworks reflect travels, the places that have inspired me, and which I now feel so privileged to play a part in protecting through Elizabeth Scarlett.

Colours and hues reflect my love of colour as an artist, the shades that I love to surround myself with – which are often inspired by the natural world and seasons. I think rather than aiming for perfection, it’s beautiful when a space reflects your stories, the things you care about, and what makes you happy. This is an ethos that also influences so much of what we do at Elizabeth Scarlett.

When we were choosing colours for the house, the colour story was of the feeling of beginning with a soft cocoon on pink through to creamy shades that feel fresher, brighter and at one with nature as you move through to the back of the house. I mirrored the same cream in the hallway and the living room, bringing the colour all the way up through the house so the interior feels like you’re being wrapped in soft, feminine tones. As you walk through the kitchen it gets fresher and lighter, with brighter yellows, greens and shades that connect to nature. So the outside begins to feel like its finding its way indoors.

Do you see the space changing or evolving much in the future?

We always wanted the house to grow as we grow. As the children grow up, I imagine there’ll be less toys, new bookshelves, and lamps (and perhaps a few new scuffs here and there!). There are a few small things like adding in wallpaper to the TV panel, and zoning areas more for work, relaxation, and children chaos. Overall though, I love that it’s a house that feels like it’ll evolve, changing and going through each different era as our family does.

Do you prefer staying in or going out? 

I love an evening in: cooking, cutting flowers from the garden and arranging a table to host for friends, or lighting my favourite candle and watching a film or series that I’ve been looking forward to.

How do you live a life in balance? Is this reflected in your home at all?

Balance to me lives in everyday rituals. Little things that bring beauty and organisation to your day, feel grounding and connect you to nature. Juggling family life and founder life has taught me to be flexible about how I find my balance. No two days are ever the same, so I make sure that I find little moments of pause and gratitude – whether it’s a morning coffee in the garden, pausing to listen to the birdsong, painting, or cooking a meal.

The Elizabeth Scarlett x Emma Bridgewater collection

Tell us about your recent collaboration with Emma Bridgewater. Are you excited for the launch?

Emma Bridgewater‘s mugs have been in my kitchen forever, so it’s a dream come true to collaborate. My mother-in-law first inspired me to gift them, and I’ve been collecting them ever since. It’s the first time taking my designs to ceramics, seeing the pieces come to life was really exciting.

The collection features four of our signature, nature-inspired designs. I think it beautifully represents what is so special about art and ceramics – pieces that celebrate craftsmanship, and the beauty of everyday moments. It’s exactly what we envisioned for the collaboration. And as an artist, there’s something about seeing some of my earliest designs reimagined through Emma’s iconic sponge technique that made me see them through a whole new lens. It really inspired me.

Is there anything in the pipeline, personally or professionally, that you can tell us about?

Yes! I’m so excited that we’re closing in on £1 million total donated wildlife conservation. By mid-October our 2% to the Wild pledge will have helped us achieve this milestone, giving 2% of annual sales to wildlife conservation every year.

When I first started this brand at my kitchen table with a few watercolours and the dream of protecting wildlife, I never could have dreamed we’d have come this far. Seeing the wave of support, the initiatives we’ve made a difference to across land, sea and sky, and the beautiful community we’ve built along the way has been a truly incredible journey.

We’re also launching our jewellery boxes in October – a first for Elizabeth Scarlett. It’s been on our community’s wishlist for a long time, and years in the making, so it’s a really exciting moment. Our wonderful design team has put in so much work behind the scenes, refining each sketch, detail and perfecting the finishing touches.

The next chapter for Elizabeth Scarlett is all about branching out into new styles, while keeping the beauty, versatility and wild heart that makes us, us. So, without giving too much away just yet, there’s a lot I’m excited for in the works!

More From Elizabeth

You can keep up with Elizabeth Petrides over at elizabethscarlett.com and @elizabethscarlett on Instagram.

You can shop the Elizabeth Scarlett x Emma Bridgewater collection at emmabridgewater.co.uk