I never imagined I would find my dream house in a place inhabited by Britain’s favorite fictional bear, but my visit to Paddington’s home proved me wrong. The Primrose Hill townhouse is bold, maximal, and full of personality. At every corner, I was struck with unique, storied design inspiration that made me want to immediately purchase a house in the English capital just to fill it with chinoiserie wallpaper and trinkets from my travels.
The English country decor home was created by the team at Airbnb to celebrate the upcoming release of the Paddington in Peru film. It’s inspired by the home Paddington shares with the Brown family in the film adaptations of his story, and every detail looks just like the movies. Though I expected to experience movie magic during my visit, I was not prepared for how beautiful I would find the space from a design perspective.
Even though I grew up in New England, the old English country style has always been one of my favorite looks. I love how full of history, life, and pattern British design style is and the way it feels unafraid of having a big personality. I can’t say it’s not one of the things that brought me to London. If you too dream of living in a house worthy of Paddington Bear, here are the top five lessons I am taking from the home.
1. Books Are Always The Best Decor
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
Bookshelf wealth was the trend of 2024, and in Paddington’s living room, it’s easy to see why. Ceiling-high bookshelves overshadow the need for any other decor, bringing instant color and hominess. Beyond the bookshelves, I especially love how the Airbnb team used antique books in alcoves and corners for unexpected warmth.
(Image credit: Sophie Edwards)
2. You Can Never Have Too Much Wallpaper
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
Wallpaper is one of the simplest ways to add pattern and character to your interiors, and it’s especially striking in the Browns’ bedroom. Rather than shying away from patterns in the rest of the room, the team took the bright paper as a cue to fill it with space with shapes, textures, and colors. I was especially struck by how this room was brought together by all the little details, like the glossy shells in the fireplace (see lesson number five).
(Image credit: Sophie Edwards)
3. Don’t Be Afraid of a Gallery Wall
(Image credit: Sophie Edwards)
We are always talking about ‘overlooked’ spaces at Homes & Gardens, because tending to them can take your interior design from good to great. The hallways throughout Paddington Bear’s home prove the rule. There was nary a staircase that the Airbnb team had not transformed with a gallery wall. These eclectic designs incorporating a variety of plates, frames, photographs, and paintings can be used in any home to create a collage of personal history.
(Image credit: Sophie Edwards)
4. Embrace Artful Clutter
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
Spaces like Paddington’s bedroom and the Browns’ bathroom (no bear-facilitated flood included) showed me the value of displaying personal effects in every space. The surfaces in both rooms are host to a variety of decorative objects, colorful textiles, and eye-catching garlands. Though clutter has historically been associated with visual overwhelm, clutter is also what makes rooms feel lived-in. Post-visit, I’m seriously considering embracing the ‘recluttering’ trend.
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
5. The Joy is in the Details
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
The blue and yellow kitchen was is far my favorite room in Paddington Bear’s home. Though the bright countertops and vertical storage are eye-catching, it’s the red accents that take the kitchen to the next level. A variety of retro-style Smeg Appliances and red and orange Le Creuset pots brings in a new color with just styling. By paying attention to seemingly ‘small’ details, the Airbnb team infused this space with a unique personality.
Retro Design
Smeg Retro Electric Kettle
It’s not often that a kettle has as much personality as this cherry red Smeg piece I saw in Paddington’s kitchen. For all its style, the appliance is also highly functional, receiving a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars in our Smeg 50s Retro Kettle Review.
Gradient Design
It’s only fitting that Paddington Bear would have my dream dutch oven. The red and orange gradient design and long-lasting contruction make this pot an heirloom piece.
Stylish Storage
This stainless steel magnetic bar is one of the best-rated on Amazon. It’s a masterclass in vertical storage and perfect for even the smallest kitchens.
If you want to experience Paddington Bear’s home for yourself, bookings for the Airbnb open at 9AM (GMT) on November 3, 2024. In the meantime, incorporating patterns, books, and intentional clutter can help you accomplish the same stunning English country style in any space.
Discovering my dream house in the same neighborhood as Britain’s beloved fictional bear, Paddington, was a delightful surprise. The townhouse in Primrose Hill exuded boldness, maximalism, and unique personality at every turn. The design inspiration found in every corner of the house made me want to immediately relocate to London just to decorate my own home with chinoiserie wallpaper and souvenirs from my travels.
The house, styled in English country decor, was designed by Airbnb to coincide with the release of the upcoming film Paddington in Peru. Inspired by Paddington’s home with the Brown family in the movies, every detail in the house reflected the whimsical charm of the film adaptations. The beauty of the space surpassed my expectations, particularly from a design perspective.
Despite growing up in New England, I have always been drawn to the old English country style. The rich history, vibrant patterns, and fearless personality of British design have always captivated me and played a role in my attraction to London. For those who share a similar dream of living in a home worthy of Paddington Bear, here are five key lessons I gleaned from my visit.
1. Books Are Always The Best Decor
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
The trend of 2024, overflowing bookshelves, was vividly showcased in Paddington’s living room. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves served as the main decorative element, adding color and warmth to the space. I was particularly impressed by the use of antique books in various nooks and crannies, adding a touch of unexpected coziness.
(Image credit: Sophie Edwards)
2. You Can Never Have Too Much Wallpaper
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
Wallpaper is a powerful tool for adding character and pattern to interiors, as demonstrated in the Browns’ bedroom. Embracing bold patterns, the room was filled with a mix of shapes, textures, and colors that complemented the vibrant wallpaper. The attention to detail, such as the decorative shells in the fireplace, tied the room together beautifully.
(Image credit: Sophie Edwards)
3. Don’t Be Afraid of a Gallery Wall
(Image credit: Sophie Edwards)
Transforming overlooked spaces with a gallery wall can elevate your interior design to new heights, as evidenced by the charming hallways in Paddington Bear’s home. Every staircase and corridor was adorned with a diverse array of plates, frames, photographs, and paintings, creating a collage of personal history that can be replicated in any home.
(Image credit: Sophie Edwards)
4. Embrace Artful Clutter
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
Spaces like Paddington’s bedroom and the Browns’ bathroom showcased the value of personalizing every corner with decorative objects, textiles, and garlands. The curated clutter added character and a lived-in feel to the rooms, challenging the notion that clutter equates to visual chaos. Post-visit, I am considering embracing the trend of intentional clutter in my own space.
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
5. The Joy is in the Details
(Image credit: Airbnb/Simone Morciano)
The kitchen, with its blue and yellow color scheme, stood out as my favorite room in Paddington Bear’s home. While the vibrant countertops and vertical storage were eye-catching, it was the red accents that added a special touch. Retro-style Smeg appliances and red-orange Le Creuset pots injected personality into the space, showcasing the power of attention to detail in design.
Retro Design
Smeg Retro Electric Kettle
The cherry red Smeg Retro Electric Kettle in Paddington’s kitchen caught my eye with its stylish design and functionality. This appliance received a high rating in our Smeg 50s Retro Kettle Review, showcasing both style and performance.
Gradient Design
The red-orange gradient design of the Le Creuset Dutch Oven in Paddington’s kitchen exemplifies timeless style and durability. This heirloom piece is a perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality.
Stylish Storage