Joanna’s resolution is about using sharp or unexpected elements to prevent a room from feeling saccharine. ‘I might include a piece of black lacquered furniture or a serious painting amongst the florals to add a little edge,’ she suggests, showing how prettiness can be powerful, but only when balanced with character and, perhaps, a bit of contrast. The interplay between soft and strong, delicate and bold, is what gives a room its real interest. It’s not about rejecting prettiness, but rather about ensuring it doesn’t become cloying or predictable.
Brandon Schubert, meanwhile, sees the question as one of context and suitability. ‘I don’t think there’s such a thing as “too pretty” in absolute terms, but when you apply the question to a specific room, then yes, I do think it’s possible for something to be too pretty. What I really mean is that there is a relationship between a room’s setting, function, occupants, etc. and how “pretty” it can be.’
For Brandon, the surroundings and purpose of a room play a huge role in what feels appropriate. A decorative scheme that works in a city home might feel out of place in a rustic building in the country. ‘It is much easier to imagine a converted barn tipping into “too pretty” than it is to imagine a boudoir in a chateau doing so,’ he notes. The key, he suggests, is ensuring that an interior feels rooted in its setting, rather than imposed – in one word, authentic.
He also points out that prettiness shouldn’t come at the cost of practicality. ‘How do you stop visual beauty being the only thing the room is about? Easy! Make sure the room functions as it should too,’ he points out, offering some pragmatic advice. ‘Focus on who will use the space, how it might be used differently at various times of day, or in various seasons. Consider the lighting, the ergonomics, the three-dimensional balance of the furnishings.’
An archway in the sitting room of Rita Konig’s London apartment frames a glimpse of the garden room beyond, where pattern, colour and reflection soften the transition and give the space a sense of generosity.
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