Designer Lou Rota shares her use of space, colour and nature to create a legacy home

Just as the British designer Lou Rota is enjoying what you might call a third act in her career – from graduating as a graphic designer to working on pop videos, then science and natural history documentaries to making and decorating tableware and furniture for the likes of Anthropologie – her house, too, is enjoying a new lease of life.

Lou and her husband, Gavin (director at a television production company), bought their three-bed, three-bath Edwardian terrace in west London 23 years ago. It has seen them through being parents to small daughters Rosie and Ava, – who then grew up and took over every inch of space as teens (with their friends in tow) – to becoming empty nesters when both girls went to university. Now, it is back to providing a convivial backdrop for a busy, bustling family as all four adults once again share the house.