Embrace Colour: How Grace Lit her Hallway with the Cove Skipper Pendant

How would you describe your interior style, and what inspires the way you decorate your home?

I really struggle to define my style. I just know what I like! That said, I love it when people describe my home as cosy and joyful because, to me, that's the perfect combination. I want my home to feel personal, but never precious or overly curated. Colour, pattern and print always play a huge part though.

I find inspiration everywhere. I love spotting colourful outfits in real life or on the red carpet and saving them to my Pinterest boards. Art is another brilliant starting point when it comes to choosing colours, whether it's a favourite print, a vintage rug, a beautiful fabric or even a quick leaf through a coffee table book. Inspiration really is everywhere!

What made you choose the Cove Skipper Pendant for your upstairs hallway, and what were you hoping to achieve in the space?

I was looking for a real statement light to hang over the stairs and create a focal point. I love the scale, the curves and the sense of modernity it brings to our Edwardian home. I'd admired the design for a long time and, as soon as the Cove Skipper Pendant was released in more colours, I knew it was exactly what the space needed. I very nearly chose the blue, but I love it when things feel a little less 'matchy', and the pink works perfectly.

Your home is full of colour and character. How did you decide on the palette for your hallway, and how does the pendant fit into your vision?

Colour makes me incredibly happy! I wanted the hallway and landing to feel like distinct spaces while still sharing a common thread. Although the paintwork is the same throughout, I've introduced different colours through the blinds, rugs, picture frames and, of course, my fabulous Cove Skipper Pendant to give each space its own identity while still making them feel connected.

Hallways are often overlooked when decorating a home. Why was it important for you to make your upstairs hallway feel just as full of inspiration as the rest of your space?

Landings can so often become spaces that you simply walk through to get somewhere else, but I wanted ours to have impact and feel like a room in its own right. I don't really do plain or neutral, so it was important that our landing reflected the same love of colour and pattern as the rest of the house. If it were a little wider, I'd love to add a chair and reading lamp to give it even more purpose but sadly, it's not.

The Cove Skipper is handcrafted from sustainably sourced wood. What drew you to a design that celebrates natural materials and traditional craftsmanship?

I'm a sucker for a story, so I'm naturally drawn to anything with an artisan or handcrafted feel, whether that's lighting, ceramics or even a beautifully made kitchen utensil. I love the idea of someone taking the time to skillfully create something unique by hand and will always choose a day spent browsing an antiques shop over a shopping centre. That said, I wouldn't want my whole house to feel like a time capsule, so I really appreciate the balance between old and new. The Cove Skipper beautifully combines craftsmanship and natural materials with a fresh, contemporary design that sits perfectly within our old home.

How has the Cove Skipper Pendant changed the atmosphere of your hallway?

It's become the hero piece and a real talking point. Downstairs, the hallway feels more traditional, with brass lighting, Victorian-inspired tiles and a few carefully chosen pieces of art, whereas upstairs feels a little more unexpected, eclectic and contemporary. I also love playing with scale, like hanging smaller pieces of art on a large wall, and this feels like the opposite of that - a relatively small ceiling with an oversized, showstopping light.

What do you love most about living with the Cove Skipper Pendant?

I absolutely adore the shadows it casts across the walls and ceiling. It almost feels like living with an art installation and is really beautiful.

What advice would you give to someone looking to add personality and warmth to an upstairs hallway through lighting?

Don't go for the obvious. It's so easy to hang a single piece of art, add a small pendant and call it a day. Instead, treat your hallway as a destination in its own right and let it have its own moment with a statement light that really sings.

You can follow Grace's Instagram at @gracelovescolour.

Posted: 14.08.26
Updated: 14.08.26