In our monthly feature, we’re invited into the homes of some of the industry’s greatest tastemakers to hear first-hand what a night in at theirs looks like. Our latest Pillow Talk takes us into the London home of textile and interior designer Rosanna Falconer, who shares her favourite linens, nightstand must-haves and bedtime stories...
What are the ingredients behind the perfect bedroom in your view?
A feeling of calm and a sense of nesting. Calm has a distinct significance for everyone: for some it's clean minimalism, for others it's an enveloping, deep colour wash. But leaning into your own sense of it is key. That, and the best quality bed linen you can afford, minimal clutter and beautifully made curtains that don't let in too much light.
When you spend the night at a friend or family member's, what little touches do you appreciate most?
A magazine they will know I love on the nightstand and a decent number of hangers in the wardrobe.
And do you have any guest room touches of your own?
Living and working between London and Jaipur means my house is full of textiles and treasures from Rajasthan. A block-printed robe on the back of the door is always a welcome touch. On the bedside, any flower can look special in a beautifully made bud vase. The mix of heights and diameters in the Violet Bud Vase Trio could render anyone a florist! And finally, an immaculately clean set of towels, including a few Face Towels.
Throws, pillows and bedspreads: what's your approach?
Let's start with the fundamentals: I'm forever loyal to white bed linen, ideally Supima cotton with a percale weave for its crisp feel and longevity. I adore the embroidered detailing on my Georgiana set. I'm quite modern in that I prefer a duvet to sheets and a bedspread, but I always dress the end of the bed with a quilt, in our case one of my own block prints from Jaipur. Cushions can bring in a little more texture, pattern and colour, but not too many. And never chopped!
What about your perfect pillow formula?
The choice of down and depth is such a personal one. The key thing for me is doubling up on your pillowcases. It's the easiest way to preserve the life of your pillows, with an additional case between your face and the pillow inner. It's one of those things my mother taught me that I've stuck to ever since.
Is there one design element to a bedroom that you'd take with you wherever you went?
Clients most often come to me for my use of colour, so colour harmony is something I think about instinctively in every room. Getting that balance right is particularly important in a bedroom, where it can be tempting to play it safe with white or cream. Ours mixes the freshness and calm of sage green with the warmth of soft plaster pink. Then there's a pop from the deep fuchsia of the block prints in the headboard, quilt and cushions. A little jolt of joy.
Insider Scoop: in which hotel have you had your best night's sleep?
Always at Deeppura Garh, a meticulously restored fort in Rajasthan owned by Italian jewellery designer Maria Grazia Baldan. Its ten serene white bedrooms embody its motto, “Have a rest before moving on.” They contrast beautifully with the original murals found throughout the property and the surrounding region of Shekhawati, famed for its extraordinary painted havelis.
What about other dream sleep destinations on your radar?
I'm delighted Villa Palladio in Jaipur is reopening in October. It's a delicious composition by Barbara Miolini and Marie-Anne Oudejans in every shade of red, from tomato and scarlet to cardinal and pomegranate. Before visiting, I thought red might feel too energising or aggressive for a bedroom. It's the antithesis.
Dish the dirt, whose home would you look forward to sleeping in more than your own?
Cameron Diaz's LA bedroom in The Holiday looks impeccably chic. But I crave the maximalism of the 1980s chintz rooms of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler.
What bedtime rituals do you have that you couldn't be without?
I'm a Virgo, so I'm full of ritual and routine. I like the bedroom to be completely tidy before I sleep. I'm sure it leads to a better night's sleep. Hand cream, foot cream and lip balm are a must, followed by a few chapters of a novel before I fall asleep, although I usually only make it through a couple of pages.
And finally, what are your secret three nightstand essentials?
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. I don't think there's been a night I haven't used it since my mother gave me some as a teenager. My Kindle, loaded with a novel by Victoria Hislop or Rosamunde Pilcher. And a bedside clock, as I keep my phone downstairs. I recently bought one made from a carved wooden printing block in Jaipur. Every morning I look at it and it brings me a little delight, but also reminds me to get up, get going, get painting and printing!
Rosanna Falconer x Rebecca Udall: The Edit
Rosanna's quick-fire five picks straight from the Rebecca Udall collection.
The bed linen you covet most
I love the elegant simplicity of Georgiana with its little hint of sage green in the ladderstitch. Soft Supima cotton means it is delicious to sleep in too.
Something decorative for your bedside
The right shape of vase makes even the simplest blooms look special. I love that the Violet Bud Vase Trio is raised on little feet and the slim neck means stems don't tumble out of place.
Pick a plate, any plate
I've styled the Zita Scalloped Crockery on many tables over the years – the scallop brings a little softness and they have a versatility that knows no bounds.
Onto the ensuite: what towel talks to you most?
Continuing the scallop love affair, I have had the full Amelia Asparagus set in my bathroom for years and it always lifts my mood. The softness of the bath mat underfoot is a little luxury each morning.
Your tablecloth one and only
Every household needs a classic Classic Hemstitch Linen Tablecloth, White. It's where every table begins!
And one piece of rattan to round things off
I adore Rebecca's rattan ranges and always add some into my interior design work – the Rattan Baskets are such a hit with clients for tidy storage and come in plentiful sizes. For me personally, it's the Rattan Round Laundry Basket, Natural – something mundane turned into something beautiful through proportion and material.
