Ellen Finch
Ellen is deputy editor of Livingetc magazine, a job she thinks might just be the best in journalism – after all, what’s better than compiling pages of the best ideas and most beautiful homes from around the world every month? After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English literature, she spent a year working at a true life media agency before starting her career in interiors journalism in 2017, where she joined Real Homes magazine as features editor. There she coordinated shoots, sought expert advice from designers and architects, and interviewed homeowners and renters about their passion projects – and kickstarted a love for design that’s driven her career ever since. She became deputy editor at the title in 2020 before moving to Livingetc two years later, thrilled to be able to write across architecture, design and travel with an eye on what’s going on in the fashion and food worlds, too. In her current role Ellen works with our talented art and production teams to publish the monthly print magazine, which features pages and pages of the most inspiring homes around the globe, interviews with leading interior designers and tastemakers, reporting on the hottest trends, and shopping edits of the best new pieces to refresh your space. From time to time she writes for other titles across Future, including Homes & Gardens and Gardeningetc.
Of course, being surrounded by so much inspiration makes it tricky to decide what to do first in her own home – not exactly the worst issue to have. She bought her flat in a converted Victorian house in the Midlands (UK) in 2023, and has since set about investing in timeless furniture pieces (her best purchase: the widest, deepest, butter yellow sofa she could find), finding new ways to display her growing ceramics collection and establishing a tiny but much-loved balcony garden. When budget allows, she’s excited to renovate her bathroom and update her kitchen – her moodboard right now is all rich wood cabinets, glossy zellige tiles and plenty of open shelving for her considerable hoard of recipe books (it’s a bit of a problem). She’s obsessed with the work of Laura Gonzalez, YSG Studio and Rodolphe Parente, but finds inspiration everywhere – from Toronto stylist Katie Merchant’s Substack to the art of Alice Neel or the oh-so-cozy library at the Ibiza Gran Hotel.
In her spare time, Ellen can be found pottering around watering (and, ahem, talking to) her plants, reading her way through her overstacked bookshelf (favorite book: Olivia Laing’s Crudo) or planning her next holiday. She’s a semi-regular member of two local book clubs and enjoys volunteering as a mentor for young women from disadvantaged communities. She’s a big foodie and enjoys researching vibey new restaurants like it’s her second job, but she’s just as happy trying out new recipes in her tiny kitchen, preferably with glass of wine in hand and a good podcast playing in the background.
Latest articles by Ellen Finch
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Can I Put a Big Couch in a Small Living Room? Experts Offer the 7 Dos and Don'ts of This Maximalist Look
Does putting a big sofa into a small room ruin its aesthetic or improve it? Is it impractical or a great way to boost seating capacity? We asked interior designers what works, and what doesn't
By Ellen Finch Last updated
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How Designers Are Re-interpreting the 1990s for a Look That Lasts Into Next Season and Beyond
By Ellen Finch Published
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"Modern Retro" Is the Mood of the Moment, and These 5 Designer Schemes Got the Memo
Think rich woods, deep reds, burnt oranges, and a surprise hit of blue for nostalgic, yet contemporary design
By Ellen Finch Published
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Paint Colors That Go With Natural Wood — 10 Picks That Bring Out the Beauty of This Organic Material
Finding paint colors that complement wood isn't too hard, but some of these choices will really make timber finishes sing
By Ellen Finch Last updated
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10 Living Room Sofa Ideas — From Low-Slung to Shapely Silhouettes, and Styling Your Sofas Back-to-Back
Sofas are a place for conversation, after all, so why not make them a conversation piece? Here are some ideas to get you started
By Ellen Finch Last updated
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5 Outdated Backyard Designs That Landscape Designers Have Left Behind – And What They're Doing Now Instead
From wall-to-wall turf to dated outdoor furniture, designers are ditching these trends in favor of stylish and sustainable swaps
By Ellen Finch Published
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Forget "Unexpected Red" — This Accent Is the Way to Energize Your Color Scheme
A hit of this vibrant shade can add a jolt of energy to your color palette – here's why designers love it as an accent hue
By Ellen Finch Published
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6 Outdated Tile Choices That Interior Designers Aren't Using Anymore — And What They Say to Try Instead
Swap overused trends for these fresh tile ideas instead — the ideal update for your kitchen or bathroom
By Ellen Finch Published
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Indoor-Outdoor Living — 5 Ways to Embrace This Transitional Trend in Your Backyard
Take it outside with an indoor-outdoor space that feels stylish and homely — interior designers share their expert tips
By Ellen Finch Published
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Designers Explain the Rules Behind Playfulism — The Decor Tricks That Make Every Home More Happy
By Ellen Finch Published
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5 Rooms That Have Mastered the Playfulism Trend — Curves, Colors and Candy Stripes
By Ellen Finch Published
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What is 70-20-10? The Color Rule Designers Love to Use — And How to Bring it Into Your Home
Designers use this decorating trick to create well-balanced, sophisticated and surprising schemes — here's what you need to know
By Ellen Finch Published
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Red and Beige is the New Designer Favorite Combo — Here’s Why (and How to Make it Work)
This dynamic duo is warm, vibrant and exciting – we spoke to interior designers to find out everything you need to know about using it
By Ellen Finch Published
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Two Tone Paint Ideas for Walls — 9 Ways to Use This Playful Approach to Color
Two-tone walls are a fun way to experiment with color palettes – and these schemes have given us plenty of ideas to get started
By Ellen Finch Published
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What Paint Finish is Replacing Limewash? This is the Richly Textured Alternative Designers Are Using on Walls Now
Over the limewash look? Designers are turning to this plaster-like paint finish instead – here's how to use it
By Ellen Finch Published
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This Chunky Furniture Trend is Setting the Tone for a Playful New Way of Decorating — Here’s How to Style it
Flared-leg furniture is a smart way to mix up your contemporary scheme with an injection of fun
By Ellen Finch Published
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This Paint Trend is the Most Magical Way to Elevate Your Home — And It Can Be Done in a Weekend
This softly-softly approach to decorating feels perfect for homes now – here’s how to perfect the look
By Ellen Finch Published
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8 Neutral Paint Colors Designers Use Again and Again — Including in Their Own Homes
We asked designers for their favorite neutral paint shades, and they delivered – here's how they use them
By Ellen Finch Published
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10 Paint Colors Interior Designers Picked for Their Own Homes — Exact Shades the Pros Love to use
Ever wondered how designers decorate their own personal spaces? Spoiler: it's often with a joyful celebration of color
By Ellen Finch Published
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‘It’s not Barbie Whatsoever’ – This is the Exact Shade of Pink Interior Designers are Choosing Now
Subtle, delicate and sophisticated, this rosy hue is something of an underdog when it comes to 2024 color trends — here’s why designers love it
By Ellen Finch Published
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The Most Controversial Decor Trend of 2024? How to Create a Color Scheme Around the "New Magnolia"
An accent hue can lift this new neutral and give a scheme extra dimension. These are the color pairings designers are using the most
By Ellen Finch Published
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7 Living Rooms That Set the Tone for How We're Decorating Our Homes This Year
From bold new approaches to color to furniture mixes that embrace the eclectic, these living rooms are defining the mood for 2024
By Ellen Finch Published
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Cocktail Corners are the Luxe Trend Taking Home Bars to a New Level – Here's How to Create Your Own
Designed to bring the feeling of your favorite cocktail lounge to your home, they're the ultimate entertaining space
By Ellen Finch Published
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Designers are Calling Burgundy This Year's Big Color Trend — These 5 Rooms Show How It Can Make Your Home Warm
Deep, dark burgundy is having an interiors renaissance – and designers are using it to elevate the luxe levels of any room
By Ellen Finch Published