Home Tour: A blossom tree inspired the architecture of this landed house in Brighton, United Kingdom

The tall, leafy tree you see here – a blossom tree planted by the homeowners  a decade earlier when they first purchased the property – has become more than just a garden feature; it’s the poetic heart of their family story. This quiet sentinel, with its seasonal transformations marking the passage of their years together, served as the primary inspiration to design firm Studio Tate when the couple decided it was time to reimagine their living space. 

This residence in Brighton, United Kingdom is warm and inviting, and takes shade from the blossom tree, creating a microclimate of tranquility that seems to extend from garden to living space without interruption.

Calm and tranquil home design

The interiors reflect a sense of calm. Dark wood floors anchor the space with a grounding energy, while soft grey furnishings in tactile fabrics like bouclé and brushed cotton create layers of comfort that invite lingering conversations. 

Throughout the home, carefully curated photographs of nature help achieve this atmosphere of mindful living, serving as windows to beloved memories and gentle reminders of the world beyond their sanctuary.

Choosing and using reflective surfaces

The living room features warm metals and glass that catch the afternoon light, creating an ever-changing play of reflections that dance across the walls as the sun shifts position. Shiny surfaces add to the elegant ambience of the home without feeling cold or impersonal. Each reflective surface seems positioned with purpose, capturing and redistributing natural light to eliminate the need for artificial illumination until well into the evening.

The inspiration for the home

“The ground floor kitchen and dining are cloaked by [the tree’s] foliage,” says Alex Hopkins, principal interior designer at Studio Tate. “The warmth of its changing autumnal character also mirrored our desired feeling for the home; welcoming and adaptable.”

This connection between nature’s cycles and family life becomes most apparent during fall, when copper and amber leaves create a natural stained-glass effect through the double-height windows. 

Letting in natural light

With natural light streaming in through the picture windows, the materials chosen – from the hand-glazed backsplash tiles that shimmer like water to the wooden cabinetry with grain patterns that tell their own stories – offers an ever-changing panorama that responds to weather, time, and mood. 

Bedroom design

A fabric headboard in grey, pendant lamp made of glass, and sheer day curtains that filter light without blocking it entirely create a soft and restful bedroom that the couple describes as their “decompression chamber.” 

Natural grain wood finishes

The simply designed, contemporary furniture and fittings were paired with wood finishes in natural grains and textures that feel honest and tactile beneath the fingertips.

This attention to the sensory experience of home extends to unexpected places – the subtly textured wall finishes that change character with different lighting, the smooth transition between flooring materials that guides barefoot pathways through the home, and even the carefully selected hardware that develops a patina from daily touch, recording the family’s movements through their space.

Natural materials

Natural materials, such as the marble for the bathroom counter and the wooden cabinets and floor, establish a connection between indoors and out that makes the threshold between garden and home feel permeable and fluid.

As darkness falls completely and the family gathers in their living room, the reflection of their beloved tree dances on the ceiling – a living shadow puppet show that reminds them of the natural heartbeat that has inspired every aspect of their calm, contemporary home.