In Flower‘s May/June 2020 issue, Charlotte Coote welcomed us inside her beautiful home. Here, she shares her personal style favorites, too. Photo by Lisa Cohen/Living Inside. Console designed by Charlotte Coote.
FAVORITE FLOWER
Lily of the Valley. It grows in our garden. The scent is beautiful. It’s like a present from heaven.
Lily of the Valley. Photo courtesy of Garden Club of Virginia
ENTERTAINING
Whether we are in my pink dining room, outside in the garden, or just having dinner next to the fire in the kitchen, we set the mood with Billie Holiday, and I always bring out the fine china. The food is fresh, local, and organic with many ingredients from my garden. My husband is the cook. I just make it all look good.
“At the start, I told the painters to paint just above the dado rail, then below it as well. One night I decided the ceiling needed to be pink too, so I stayed up painting until 3 a.m.,” says the designer. Chair fabric: Alexandrie by Pierre Frey.
TABLE MATTERS
I use the best—always (except for the children, maybe). I love Astier De Villatte, and I have a Coote & Co. line of porcelain that I designed with my father. I keep adding to that collection. I also love my oversize white monogrammed napkins from Guinevere in London.
Coote & Co. porcelain, cooteandco.com
AUSTRALIAN INDULGENCES
I love the scent of Aēsop soaps and fragrances.
Monista Tea Co.—both the flavors and the packaging are beautiful.
Silk scarf from G by Georgia Baillieu
G by Georgia Baillieu—Georgia designs gorgeous silk scarves inspired by trips to Africa.
For the girls (Coote’s three young daughters)—d. Dougal. My friend Arabella Ramsay designs darling play clothes and dresses, dougalaustralia.com; Instagram: @wearedougal.
FAVORITE INSTAGRAM FEEDS (ALL AUSTRALIAN):
-
- Garden: Paul Bangay, @paulbangay
- Fashion: Le Louvre, @lelouvre_melbourne
- Travel: August Coveted Travel, @august__travel
- Food: du Fermier, @du_fermier
- Interiors (self plug!): Coote & Co., @cooteandco
- Antiques: Graham Geddes Antiques, @graham_geddes_antiques
- Homewares and furniture: Bragg & Co, @bragg.co
- Art: National Gallery of Victoria, @ngvmelbourne
WHAT SHE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO
Coote’s annual November masterclass, The Art of Living Well, is held in the gardens of her home, Marnanie, in Australia. Photo by Lisa Cohen/Living Inside
Every November, fellow Melbourne interior designer Adelaide Bragg and I host a Masterclass called The Art of Living Well. It’s held over a weekend, and we use all elements of the property. Landscape designer Paul Bangay gives a tour of the gardens. This year, India Hicks will join us to talk about the art of entertaining. Follow @theartoflivingwell_ on Instagram for updates.
LOOK INSIDE DESIGNER CHARLOTTE COOTE’S HOME
To create a vibrant home and lifestyle for her family, the Australian designer remade a house steeped in childhood memories into a place filled with nostalgia and wonder. See more.
