You might know of my struggle to name ‘my style’, especially if you’ve followed for a while. Well, I’ve finally figured it out. The basis of where it started, and how it has developed to be ScandiScot.

There is a new movement that has taken over Hygge (the Nordic art of making a cozy home), which is called Còsagach, pronounced “coze-a-goch” (the last part is said like the Scottish say ‘loch’). It’s an old Gaelic word for being snug, content and protected. Sort of the same feeling as Hygge. It’s all about natural layers, think tartan (for me in a neutral colour way), chunky neutral cable knit throws, velvet, candles, fire, and maybe a whisky in hand 😉

The two, for me, go hand in hand. Elements of ScandiScot style has always been with me, and recently I was looking through photos of all of the places we’ve called home, how I’ve decorated them, and also looked through all of the magazine tear sheets I have saved for the last 22 years. What I noticed was a pattern of this style evolving.

Photo – Tricia Foley

My very first real interior design influence came from (and still comes from Tricia Foley). Tricia’s style is perfect as far as I’m concerned. Very minimal, but still homely. Based on white with layers of natural textures and materials, it was my first layer to ScandiScot. There’s an element of British Colonial style, but very pared back in Tricia’s spaces. I’ve taken this aesthetic with me on my design journey.

Our living room at the farmhouse is probably both of these decorating styles come together. For me a home must be able to be lived in – warm and inviting and not too precious. Our sofa covers swap between white in summer and natural linen in the cooler months. They are washable and easy to live in, but still beautiful. This photo was taken while we still had those terrible drapes up (which came with the house when we bought the property, so don’t look at those) at Christmas time,  but it’s  probably a good photo to show you the palette I’ve been using a lot in the renovated parts of our new/old home.

I’ve started to bring in neutral tartans, because you may know my family and I are Scottish, my husband also is of Scottish heritage. There has always been an enormous pull to Scotland for me, and since we visited family there last year, it is very strong in Mic and our boys too. It made sense to have elements of it at home, and I brought back some pieces from our trip to incorporate.

You can see from the first photo that we have added white boards to our living room boards, and this dining area shares that open plan space. I’ve brought in colonial portraits and tonal artwork. My vintage and antique Scottish stoneware bottles fit in beautifully. I have been collecting 5em for years -another layer that was developing to this style. Originally I wanted to get rid of this wood wall, maybe paint it white, but it’s grown on us so much now it is staying. The space needs the warmth this element brings and adds to the còsagach feeling in the room. Years ago, I would have painted it without a second thought. The big wicker pendant light casts the perfect warm glow over our table and plays with the wreath art piece I made from twisted willow years ago. This doorway will soon have a new door with barn door hardware.

Our new kitchen that Mic and I built at the farm was the first real chance I had to bring this style out for real. As we had packed away all of our things from the last house (and we got rid of a LOT of decorating items that I knew I’d grown out of), I only took what I really, really loved to the farm. It was staring me in the face – ScandiScot!

The appreciation of Scandi design with the coziness of the highlands. Not so much the Swedish style, but more Danish. Natural elements rule here, and there is not the minimalist qualities of Danish/Scandi design. It’s all about layers. My collection of old wood bread boards , pampas grass, Amber glass, old botanic prints and linen all come into play. It’s more about cocooning  I’m all for that!

Near the end of our time at our last home (shown here), the feeling I was looking for started to poke its head out.

In our bedroom as well. We have yet to renovate our room at the Farm, but it will have the white boards like our living room (image 1). We’ve changed this bed over to our guest bedroom, and I’m thinking of having a linen covered headboard made.

Photo- The White House Daylesford

Lynda Gardener has also been a big influence on my style. Not for nearly as long as Tricia Foley though. Lynda is an Australian interior Designer/stylist and boutique accomodation star. Lynda’s love of grouping old art pieces and prints with natural textiles, anchored with white floats my interior style boat a lot. Her body of work is stunning, and I’ve learnt a lot from Lynda’s style.

Especially how to pull a gallery wall together with vintage pieces mixed in. This photo is from my studio, and I picked up this old flag to use on the wall to add a bit of interest to my other old pieces and to warm up the all white space. I think it works really well with my vintage boxing gloves and carpenters ruler.

I’ll talk about ScaniScot style more, and I know you’ll be hearing a lot more about Còsagach as it’s tipped for big things this year, taking over from Hygge.

For now though, I’m just happy to have found a style I really connect with. Im happy it’s not a mainstream style too. It’s exciting for me to see just how long this has been waiting to be pulled together from all of my loves and influences.

That beauitful influence from Danish design, the traditional influence from a paired back/relaxed British Colonial style and the warmth and cocooning feel of a highlands stone house has me right at home -literally!

all photos, except ones mentioned are by Ness Lockyer

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