Painter and ceramicist Gavin Houghton welcomes us into his wonderfully layered home in South London, where English country charm meets his love of art, pattern, antiques, and collected objects. After years working in interiors and editorial styling, Gavin has filled the house with his own paintings and ceramics alongside pieces gathered from friends, junk shops, travels, and family.

Every room is full of color and personality, from Delft plates and painted furniture to Moroccan lanterns, chintz, wallpaper, and walls covered in art. Gavin believes that layering makes a room feel calmer, and his home is a perfect example of how a mix of pattern, history, and treasured objects can create a space that feels both eclectic and deeply comfortable.

Today, painting has become Gavin’s primary career, and his garden studio is where he paints, works on ceramics, and develops his growing collection of fabrics. It’s a charming, creative world that feels less like a perfectly designed house and more like an artist’s home that has evolved naturally over 25 years.

No English home is complete without a sitting room, and according to Gavin, this is the most formal room in the whole house, but that doesn't mean he doesn't use it often. "We are here mostly in the evenings. I love it in the winter with the fire going," he notes. The fire is made especially cozy with the fireplace surround made entirely of stripped wood. "I've got a bit of a passion for these stripped types of fire surrounds," Gavin adds.

Tucked within the kitchen, this dining nook offers a glimpse of the wallpaper that completely captivated Gavin when he initially saw the house. "This Pierre Frey wallpaper is a bit of a theme in this room, and it's been in this house since I moved here, and I love it," he shares. That's about the only element that pre-dated his arrival because everything else is new—well, new to the home. "When Colefax & Fowler moved from Brook Street, they had a big sale, and I went rather drunk after lunch and bought a table and a fireplace, but I love it."

"The fireplace, I mean, it's a bit grand, but I've got a thing for these wooden fireplaces," Gavin says. "I don't know why."

If there is one design element that runs throughout nearly every room, it's exquisite wallpaper. "This is another wallpaper that is a total favorite of mine," he says. "I love the combination of turquoise and chocolate, and if you look at the curtains and the cushions, they're brown and turquoise. It's just such a brilliant combination."

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