Steal her style: Clarissa Hulse

They say that home is where the heart is, and there’s no better way of showing it than surrounding yourself with things that are near and dear to you. It’s fortunate then that textile designer Clarissa Hulse (1) has impeccable taste and a skill for mixing prints and feel-good brights. It is this exquisite talent for fashioning breathtaking fabrics (2) that has been testament to the success of her eponymous label over the past 10 years. With a particular passion for all things bright and beautiful, it is no surprise that the mother of two confesses she is a “colourful maximalist”. Oh, and she’s a little bit obsessed with cushions and rugs too.

Looking around her North-London home (3) and admiring her inimitable collections of colour-pop textiles (4), you can understand why she finds so much joy in working with and styling colour. “Until recently every magazine you opened was filled with minimalist interiors, but people have realised how much fun they can have with colour,” Clarissa says. And with the homewares world (and fashion world too, for that matter) currently obsessed with the print-mania trend, the look is sure to spill into homes across the country any moment now. But what is the best way to work the trend? Well, Clarissa says it is about balance. “I am a huge fan of dark walls as it shows off colours amazingly. In terms of mixing prints, it’s best to stick to one palette.”

From a rainbow collection of Aaronson Noon glass vases (5), to countless cushions and even rainbow lights (6), all of the bits and bobs found in Clarissa’s colourful sanctuary (7), which she shares with her husband and Alex and two children, have been accumulated over the years. And besides these precious belongings that turn this house into a home, she says, “Textiles,” are another great way to immediately bring warmth into your abode. “You can’t beat some lovely cushions (8) and a nice rug to create cosiness,” she is quick to add.

Clarissa Hulse Home is now stocked in over 100 stores and in 11 countries – from cushions to wallpaper (9), throws and lighting, it is an uncompromising style in her quest for perfect colour combinations, prints and fabrics that has made Clarissa one of the best-known designers of luxury homewares. And with rumours (which she can neither confirm or deny, but seems very excited when on the topic) that she is currently working with a top-end department store on a range of rugs, furniture, ceramics, kitchen textiles and cushions, we are set to see Clarissa in even higher demand. Watch this space!