Inside The Curious House: Joanne Burgess on Creating Playful, Eclectic Interiors
We've long admired Joanne Burgess's distinctly eclectic approach to interior design. As the founder of The Curious House, she effortlessly blends colour, pattern, designer finds with thrifted treasures to create playful, curious spaces full of character. Her own home - a Georgian townhouse in Henley-on-Thames - is the perfect showcase of her signature style.
When it came to time to photograph our Corbie rugs, Joanne's home immediately came to mind as the ideal location. Its rich, vibrant colour palette beautifully complemented our designs, and we were thrilled when she kindly agreed to have us over!
We caught up with Joanne to learn more about her approach to design, her inspiration, and the playful touches that make her eclectic interiors so unique.
Your home feels so playful and full of colour. Is there one small detail that brings you joy every day?
There are so many playful moments in the house, yes - that sometimes I forget to celebrate them as I walk by, but I think the one thing I do always marvel at is a trompe-l’oeil set of tables I have where the outer case is cast as a tablecloth which sits on top of a flamboyant inner table that has a crenelated edge and ball feet. I do love a functional metamorphic piece of furniture.
You’re known for mixing colour, pattern, art and antiques so beautifully. How do you approach combining old and new pieces, or different styles, in a way that feels cohesive?
I think to gain an overall cohesive feel you have to have an underlining colour theme that brings a set of pieces from different eras together. I find it easier to mix up a lot of different pieces than creating a one dimensional space. I often start with an object - be it a flooring sample - a paint colour or a piece of furniture and then layer up the theme. Colour and texture are crucial and they often just naturally sit together in my brain. I find translating what’s in my head to the client the hardest part of my job.
Where do you draw inspiration from for your interiors projects and your own home?
I realise this is a thudding cliche but I find inspiration everywhere. I always walk around new places with an eye on a finial, a brick texture or an errant roof tile. Anomalies always catch my eye and they are often the fun bits that come out in my work. I spend a lot of time visiting historic properties as I love tradition in decor and always use antiques in some way. Design is pretty much just a re-hash of everything that has gone before - it's just making sure you've seen all the right places.
Has your love for eclectic interiors always been there, or has your style evolved over time?
My love for the eclectic has always been with me - I was quite a flamboyant dresser in my youth - often seen sporting a pair of cast off Lena Zavaroni sequin dungarees in my old stomping ground of Glasgow. I think the challenge is refining your instinctual style for clients - which is a worthy challenge. I often work with people who want a much more understated curious house - I love that challenge - creating a more streamlined vision for them but still with that little quirk.
Looking back, is there an interiors project you’re particularly proud of, and why?
I think the project I’m most proud of is my own house - and that’s because I had complete creative control, and an accommodating family who asked no questions and were prepared to go with my flow. I love working to a budget as that’s when you have to be the most creative as the money wanes. I relished the challenge of creating special moments out of almost nothing - creating beauty out of the mundane.
When starting a new project, where do you begin?
You always begin with the client - even though they may not have a full vision of what they want you need to eek that out of them to achieve their dream. I often start with inspiration mood boards and see where the client takes you. You can shape a room design from one piece of furniture or a colour - and I’m always happy to do a few themes until we are on the right track.
Is there a dream project or type of client you’d love to work with?
I would love to work with a true creative where the project was a collaboration - a surrealist type character who wants to make the ordinary unique. Maybe if Lewis Carroll or Salvador Dali where still around…
What inspired The Curious Curtain, and how did it come to life?
Function inspired The Curious Curtain and the worlds chilliest hallway. I removed the hallway doors when I moved in to expose the vista of the corridor from the front door but it meant the kitchen couldn’t retain its heat. So I knew I needed a door but I didn’t want a door - so I painted one on a piece of fabric and flung it up in the doorway to see if it would work. We gained a couple of degrees straight away.
I've also just launched Curious Top Pillows, and table cloths are in the pipeline!
What are the different ways people can work with you on interiors projects?
I can help people in lots of different ways. I offer a full room design from floor to ceiling for around £500 or I can do zoom chats if a client just wants to sound some ideas off me or get some advice. I also offer a full interior design service - looking at floor plans, decor, joinery - the full package. I find the room consultations really popular.
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Website: thecurioushouse.co.uk
Instagram: @thecurioushouse.co.uk
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