Ceramics are the mischievous charmers of the design world, far too full of personality to be hidden behind cupboard doors. With their sculptural forms, tactile textures and painterly glazes, they have the power to completely transform a space. At our Design Studio, we love to see ceramics climb walls, peek from bookshelves, perch proudly on sideboards and even take flight.
From storytelling plates to whimsical lighting, ceramics bring colour, texture and a delightful sense of play to interiors. Here’s how to celebrate these everyday treasures and let them breathe life into your home.
Give Your Pots a Personality
Ceramics aren’t just practical, they’re poetic. Even the simplest plant pot becomes something special when chosen with imagination.
As seen in The Orangery at Warren Street Hotel, Martha Freud’s spirited works take centre stage. Her ceramic pots don’t simply hold plants, they hold presence. Throughout our hotels, we feature her works with playful inscriptions and clever forms that evoke curiosity and spark conversation. Grouped together, they become a garden of quirky characters, each with its own voice.
So next time you reach for a pot, think beyond function. Find one that makes you smile and let it take pride of place.
Plates on the Wall? Absolutely.
Plates shouldn’t be limited to the dinner table. We love using them in unexpected ways, hung high above a fireplace, zigzagging down a hallway, or nestled between framed artwork. In The Orangery at The Whitby Hotel, a curated collection of china platters are framed in Perspex and arranged like a gallery wall. It’s a modern take on traditional decoration, bringing elegance and structure to the room.
At Warren Street Hotel, Robina Jack’s hand-painted plates are displayed like gallery pieces, each brimming with colour and story.
Their energy was so contagious that we even created a wallpaper to cover the walls and a fabric to upholster our furniture, both influenced by their designs.
Ceramic plates bring narrative, colour and texture. Hung in creative compositions, they add instant charm and allow personality to shine.
Illuminating with Imagination
Lighting is one of the most magical ways to bring ceramics into your space. At Dorset Square Hotel, Martha Freud’s ceramic butterfly lights flutter delicately above the Potting Shed’s banquette seating, casting a warm, dreamlike glow. These pieces blur the line between sculpture and utility, turning light into art.
Our Rockin’ Robin collection with Porta Romana brings its own sculptural flair. Inspired by Alexander Calder’s mobiles, the design features porcelain eggs suspended from twine-wrapped steel branches. The effect is gentle, poetic and perfect for welcoming spring indoors. Explore the collection here.
At the end of the day, ceramics are so much more than decoration, they’re storytellers. Each piece brings soul and personality into your space. So, let your ceramics leap off the shelves, glide across walls and shimmer in the light. Celebrate them boldly and often, because in the right setting, even the humblest piece can become a masterpiece.