Taking the country to town

Interior Design Masters' Briony Ace on how farmhouse decor is filtering into city living.

- By SAM WYLIE-HARRIS

Briony Ace in her country style dining area... "Muted greens, natural timber, and aged brass create a warm and inviting backdrop for this living space. The combination of practical storage and open display reflects a modern urban approach to country living - functional yet full of character."

ARE you ready to embrace country living but with the benefits of being a townie?

It turns out you're not alone... and this is where the shift towards modern urban country decor differs from countrycore; particularly the nostalgic aesthetic and whimsy touches but they are connected.

When it comes to this design trend, "I feel like it's essentially having a sort of a country sensibility, without the country postcode," explains interior designer and stylist, Briony Ace.

"It's all about people bringing that warmth and heritage into their home; but perhaps not the more traditional clutter you might see with countrycore."

She continues. "It's more sort of urban. I think people are perhaps a little bit done with minimalism... when we all went through that grey era.

"I think it's about bringing all of the warmth and depth of the country; but it's definitely not twee or chintzy," says the 38-year-old, who lives in Surrey.

Having grown up in Croydon, "way into that urban era', as she puts it, and now in the country "which is beautiful, lots of greenery', she's experienced the best of both worlds.

"I'm able to bring those lovely elements of warmth into people's homes, no matter where they live," she says confidently.

The mother of two, who was a quarter finalist on the BBC show Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr, recalls she had to come up with a tagline to summarise her style, namely "earthy and organic', and one she says very much suits her.