No matter how tumultuous 2020 was, January always brings a sense of opportunity. So, this year whether you're dealing with self-isolation or missing loved ones, I'm confident that we will all do our best to enter it with a sense of optimism that life will get better. 

In my own life, there ought to be lots of newness on the horizon — I've recently acquired a brand-new house and beginning a life I'd never have dreamed I'd be embarking on this time last year. All being well, as you read this, I'll not only be in my new place but planning how I am going to decorate it. 

Sure, I've already crossed off my list my sofa fabric —fully knowing that nothing jinxes a new house purchase quite like optimistic planning ahead of time— but nevertheless! I am quite certain the dusky yellow linen hue will work marvelously and pull the room together.

While there is so much excitement on my end, I do hope the same for you, which is why I've pulled together a little pick-me-up that I believe will do the trick. To rid the January blues filling the air, I've carefully curated a collection of Editor's Picks to spark joy and lift spirits in every room of your home. 

The key? Discovering the groundling joy in choosing pieces that incorporate a touch of earth tones— we're talking terracotta, tan, browns, warm grays, burnt siennas, and white (to name a few). From a buttery leather saddle chair to an antique log holder, all seven of these sensational styles featured will bring joy and light up any (and every) room in your home. 

Cheers to a better month ahead! 

1. A perfectly plush pillow cover

2. A mid-century bar cart

3. A rounded bookcase 

4. A brass log holder

5. An untraditional flower vase 

6. A luxurious leather chair 

7. A 3-light sculptural chandelier 

Still, want more? Check out additional recommendations below: 

• Sculptural Glass 7-Light Globe Chandelier
• Vail Leather Chair - Wood Legs
• Crackle Glazed Ceramic Vases

Every month, the print edition of Livingetc features fabulous houses, news from international designers and brands ideas, and an edit of everything you need to know about right now. 

Stay updated on the ever-shifting trends in the world of contemporary design with ideas from our impressive roster of contributors – you’ll find renowned designers themselves offering you advice and insight about how they feel about style right now. 

Discover inspiring travel suggestions, beautiful yet easy recipes and a cultural list of everything you need to see, watch, read and listen to.  

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Set near the West Sussex market town of Midhurst (meaning 'among the wooded hills') is this idyllic country mansion.

Dating back to 1850, this nine bedroom family home has plenty of history and character, with traditional features including French chateau-style shutters, twinkling chandeliers, period oak panelling and elaborate tiled floors, but the property has enjoyed a complete refurbishment over the past few years, transforming it into a gloriously modern and playful property.

A real showstopper, the house has something for all generations; from the heated indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, home gym, treatment room and home bar for the grown ups, to the tennis courts, delightfully fun play rooms – not to mention the play house and zip wire in the manicured landscaped gardens for adventurous kids (and kids at heart).

Read Also:Design Project: A Strikingly Playful, Modern Country Home in Petworth, West Sussex

One for the Pinterest boards, this classic country estate has updated its interiors to fuse traditional country style with modern updates. Spa-like bathrooms are extra large, and feature walk-in showers and modern freestanding tubs that are almost big enough to swim in.

And if you're thinking this type of country home is reserved for daydreams only, think again; it's available to rent through uniquehomestays.com.

Ready to explore?

Read Also:Explore Calvin Klein Co-Founder's Stunning Equestrian Estate

Manicured, landscaped lawns tumble down to wild meadows and 40 acres of privately owned enchanting woodland before reaching the river Rother that winds through the house's grounds.

And if you skip down the terrace steps the other way you'll find the tennis courts.

Read Also:Chic & Stylish Ideas For Small Gardens

There's also a barbecue and fire pit, and a a large trampoline, outdoor playhouse and zip wire for kids.

Push open the front door into a traditional-style hallway, with original tiled floors and wood panelling.

Read Also:Gorgeous Hallway Ideas

There's a wood panelled lobby, with an impressive wooden staircase leading up to the nine bedrooms upstairs.

The kitchen combines old and new; with a traditional Aga but a modern kitchen island with breakfast bar and industrial-style kitchen stools.

Read Also:35 Strikingly Stylish Kitchen Breakfast Bar Ideas

The large, open-plan ground floor flows from the kitchen into a TV room, and on into the lounge. There are no doors, just open doorways.

The kitchen also flows into an informal dining space, with rustic picnic benches, and doors that open out into the garden.

Read Also:Laid-back Luxe Dining Room Ideas

The downstairs lounge is super snug, with linen sofas, a plush rug and an ottoman instead of coffee table.

French windows open out into the manicured gardens beyond.

Read Also:Design Project: A Light-Filled Family Home In London's Holland Park

There's a more formal living room too, reserved for grown ups.

And there's a formal dining room too, for special occasions and visitors. Modern dining chairs offer an up-to-date contrast against the traditional wood panelling and dark palette.

Read Also:Statement Dining Room Lighting

But arguably the best room of all is the pool house extension.

A heated indoor pool, surrounded by arched French windows and a large sky light. The French windows open up onto a terrace, making this a popular spot in spring and summer months.

Read Also:Design Project: An Enviable Rear Extension With Heated Swimming Pool in London's Highgate

The home bar lives here too, with comfy lounge seating.

Aside from a sauna, steam room and hot tub, there's a treatment room with sink and shower.

And if that wasn't enough, there's a home gym too.

Read Also:Stylish exercise kit to get you moving indoors and out

Upstairs, the master bedroom has a classic feel to it, with an upholstered buttoned headboard and classic details.

Nestled in between the bed and the sofa is a box with pop-up television for binging Netflix in bed. The bay window offers room for seating.

The master bathroom is pretty divine too, with a large zinc tub big enough for two.

Read Also:Chic and stylish bathroom flooring ideas

Meanwhile, the children's bedrooms feature fun and playful touches, like the tin ceiling, hanging swing bed, funky homework station and a treehouse style bunk bed with chalkboard painted interior walls.

Read Also:Fun Ideas for Cool Kids' Bedrooms

The girl's room also features a fun bunk bed with hanging seat, along with a stylish homework area.

Read Also:Stylish Homework Nooks & Home Offices For Kids

All this is on top of the generous play space downstairs.

Read Also:Wonderfully Fun Kids Play Room Ideas

The remaining rooms are chic guest bedrooms, each with its own country-inspired style.

All of the bathrooms feature a modern country look, for example with wood shutters, wood panelling and wood flooring, updated with modern bathroom fittings.

The tiled bathrooms are equally chic, featuring linen blinds and gorgeous lighting.

Read Also:Explore a converted 19th century engine house in Cornwall

We imagine that waking up in a property like this will give you little desire to leave, but with the beautiful countryside of the South Downs National Park on the doorstep, as well as the Goodwood Estate and Cowdray Park Polo Club, plus London just an hour away, it really is the most idyllic staycation setting.

Read Also:Design Project: A Modern Beach Villa Just Outside Copenhagen

From £15,000 per week, £12,000 per short break, via uniquehomestays.com

Photography: Mark Watts

London-based architect Sebastian Mann, co-founder of design agency Minale + Mann and founder of its sister furniture company The Workshop, takes an innovative approach to designing high-end residential and commercial spaces. With a philosophy that good design should be permanent and not follow fashion, he shares his secrets for creating the perfect modern interior...

What first sparked your interest in architecture?

My first encounter with anything architectural was through taking photographs of buildings and people on my travels. As a child, my Polaroid camera was alwaysto hand. I stuck the photos into albums and every once in a while, I’d flick through them – in my teens, I started to notice something different in the photos; I saw how people were somehow intrinsically connected to the buildings and their surroundings.

How does the interplay of people and spaces figure in your designs?

It’s vital to create spaces that envelope and cosset their inhabitants, whether it’s in a private room or in an office. In someone’s home, I think about intimacy and ways to reflect the owner’s personality; in a commercial environment, it’s about how people need to interact to get their jobs done.

What tips would you offer someone starting a new project?

Always start at the top end of the spectrum when planning a project and never compromise at the beginning; if you hold back at the start, you’ll never reach the stars! As a designer, it’s my job to innovate and come up with ‘outside the box’ ideas that make each scheme.

Are you a neutral kind of guy?

It’s common practice to use a neutral palette, like a gallery with its blank canvas of white walls, to help make a piece of furniture, lighting or artwork the focus in the room, but I think that’s a bit old hat! I like to mix things up – at the moment, I’m playing with concrete finishes teamed with natural stones and zinc-framed details; sultry backdrops of shimmering velvets with moody shades, such as Farrow & Ball’s Black Blue;

and modern hardware by Buster + Punch [Massimo Buster Minale is the other co-founder of the design company] in metals like brushed blackened steel, smoked bronze and glowing brass. These can give a sexy edge to even the simplest cupboards or drawers.

Do you have a particular design style?

I’m driven by materials and texture, especially the interplay between hard and soft finishes, such as hand-stitched quilted leather against a concrete wall, or matt and reflective materials working together, like solid wood with copper.

Most of all, I like to play with light and shadow to create atmosphere and mood.I design with a refined industrial aesthetic in mind – I love the hard-core elements of London, be it the skyline of cranes or the majesty of Battersea Power Station or the more contemporary twist on industrial techniques, such as the Lloyd’s building.

What’s the best way to find inspiration?

I took a year out of my studies, taking the path less travelled for a young architect. I worked in Kathmandu (on community projects, such as schools, clinics and orphanages), Siem Reap in Cambodia (on temple restoration for the World Monuments Fund) and Beijing (on restoration projects inside the Forbidden City). It taught me what an invaluable impact architecture has on a community – how people respond to a space is not just about shelter and comfort, it can inspire us into a different state of being.

How do you spend your downtime?

I try to switch off from work completely and focus on my family. We treat each weekend as ‘the holiday weekend’ – which the kids find exciting, if not a little confusing. Sometimes, we don’t even leave the house!

What does home mean to you?

Home is the world I’ve created with my wife and our two young daughters. It’s not a place, a building, or even a particular feeling – it’s simply wherever we move as a family, that’s home.

Is there an ultimate dream project still to come?

I can’t wait to have a garden big enough to design my girls a treehouse. This would be a place where we would all camp out at night, so it needs to house the whole family, with the ability to open the roof and look up at the stars.

We have a sneaky feeling, though, that this particular treehouse will have a concrete floor!

To learn more about Sebastian’s work, visit minaleandmann.com and theworkshop-mm.com

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE INTERIORS BUSINESS? After showcasing a piece of furniture – something for a restricted space that could turn from a two-seater lounger and coffee table into two benches and a dining table – as my final-year graduate project at the New Designers exhibition in London in 2002, someone kindly recommended me to architect Martin Brudnizki to help design his own-brand furniture collection.

SO WAS THIS YOUR BIG BREAK?

From working on furniture for Martin, I suddenly found I was designing bespoke pieces for restaurants such as Scott’s and managing private residential projects. Martin taught me the importance of getting the smallest details right. Doing my own thing has allowed me to push the boundaries creatively and collaborate with a team of young designers who make me laugh. This really is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

CAN YOU SUM UP YOUR APPROACH?

Our aim is to create homely spaces that people feel instantly connected to. We like to mix rough with smooth, so combining textured materials such as wood, concrete and tiles with pattern and interesting lighting to add depth and warmth to a room. My favourite part of any project is sourcing really beautiful, but functional vintage furniture. These pieces bring an easy elegance and create a space that people find welcoming and comforting.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BUYING ADVICE?

I would never purchase an antique on the basis of an online image; it’s vital to see it in person, to ensure it has a good weight if it’s a chair and good joinery for a table. It doesn’t matter if pieces are a little chipped – that just lends character. I never worry too much about the vintage pieces we use coming from the same family, just as long as they share a similar visual language. For new pieces, with a similar high-quality, crafted aesthetic, I work with Rough Living and Matthew Cox. I also like the lived-in feel of Rose & Grey’s leather Chesterfields. West Elm has some lovely products too – I’m keen on its mirrors and mid-century-style sideboards.

WHAT’S BEEN A FAVOURITE PROJECT?

The Musket Room in Manhattan’s NoLIta district – its vibe is relaxed rustic, but with sophisticated touches, such as gorgeous Moore & Giles leather for the banquettes.

WHERE’S THE HEART OF YOUR HOME?

The dining room. My house revolves around food, so a good table is somewhere enjoyable to sit, share and appreciate one another. I say take a leaf from restaurant design and use low-level lighting and comfortable seating to allow the food and company to be the focus.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS AND FURNISHINGS?

If the bones of a room are minimal, you can play with layers of pattern and colour, but for somewhere like the villa in Puglia we recently worked on, with its 17th-century detailing, we kept the furniture very pared back. At Hally’s café in London, we went for a Californian vibe, but the whitewashed raw brick and simple wood-panelled walls felt a bit bland, so we dip-dyed the tops of bentwood chairs in pretty colours and used patterned fabric for cushions to give it a lift.

WOOD SEEMS TO FEATURE A LOT IN YOUR WORK…

I’m obsessed with rough, unfinished wood – I think it stems from my childhood and growing up in a house filled with highly polished mahogany. I was terrified of marking anything. Wood lends soul to a home, with all its imperfections and scratches. I like to use different timber finishes together, such as a rich, unwaxed walnut floor with grainy oak cupboard door fronts in a kitchen.

HOW ELSE DO YOU BUILD UP DEPTH AND INTEREST?

Tiles in different shapes, widths and sizes work well together – a favourite supplier is Focus Ceramics – and I like to choose designs with a mottled, handmade feel (even if they’re brand new) as they have more depth. Painting walls with a brush rather than a roller also gives extra texture. The size of floorboards can really affect a room’s mood too – really thin boards give more contrast to a room so you need very little else; wide boards bring less attention to the floor. Favourite suppliers include Schotten & Hansen and Marmorea.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PAINT COLOURS YOU PARTICULARLY RECOMMEND?

I’ve just painted my living room in Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke. It’s very cosy. For a lighter neutral, I love Farrow & Ball’s Pointing. It’s warm, elegant and clean, plus there’s a comforting way it glows with electric light.

AND WHAT ABOUT LIGHTING BUYS?

A current favourite is the Cloud light by Apparatus Studio, which we used at Ober Mamma in Paris. We also recently used a metalworker to create bespoke shapes for us, which we then had an electrician wire up as lights. Statement lighting makes a space feel unique.

FINALLY, WHERE’S BEST TO GO TO EXPERIENCE YOUR STYLE?

We’ve just finished a restaurant for Michelin-starred chef Günter Seeger in New York – an interesting juxtaposition of a cosy, rustic restaurant feel with a fine dining experience in the Meatpacking District – and are soon to open the Mamma Primi restaurant in Paris’s 17th arrondissement, combining fun Italian food in an elegant, intimate space. We’re also working on a second Clove Club here in London and a wine bar for Château Margaux in Marylebone.