A Home with Heart: Inside Samara Davisworth’s London Home

It was the untouched original plaster cornicing within a gleaming Stucco-fronted house tucked down a quiet side street off Hyde Park that clinched it for Samara Davisworth. It was the second thing that had stopped the native Australian’s grand European tour in its tracks. The first was meeting her now-husband. After encountering both him and the flat during her travels, she returned home to Australia before making the decision to move back to London four months later. And lucky, then, that the flat’s happy position overlooking a lush private garden belonged to him—and that both he and the flat stayed put.

‘He was already living here when we met. I was 24 - it was a long time ago! – and I remember thinking that the original plaster cornicing was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I’m Australian and from a very small town. The grandeur of the architecture I came across on that European holiday had such a profound impact on me.’

It is testament to Samara’s nose for unearthing potential that its untouched state brought with it the joy of possibility, rather than a crashing wave of overwhelm. It’s a process that enraptured followers of the warm tones and endless inspiration she posts at @livingbysamara have shared and delighted in, as its beautiful bones have unfurled into life, Samara breathing warmth and love back into them.

‘It hadn’t really been touched since before the 1970s and had bright red carpet throughout - even in the bathroom, which really shocked me as an Australian!’ she recalls. ‘But that also meant it was a perfect blank slate and still had all of its original features. Over the last twelve years, we’ve slowly updated it. I change my mind a lot, so I like to mull things over and take my time. I also think it’s important to live in a space first - to understand how the light works and how it functions.’

As such, the process, then, has been one of gradual unearthing rather than executing a grand master plan. She is, she says, led by instinct – pouring pieces of herself, her life, and her ancestry into the fabric of the architecture and her everyday.

‘Most of my inspiration comes from lived experience - the stripped hardwood floorboards and rustic surroundings of my Australian childhood, the eclectic home of my Croatian grandmother, the beautiful English gardens of this country, a friend’s home we used to visit in Provence. I’m inspired by how things make me feel, more than how they look, most of the time.’

It shows. While exquisite to look at, Samara’s home is, above all, alive and inviting. There is nothing of the show home in her little squares: these are beautiful moments of real life within the family that has grown under the kind roof that cradled her from the moment she first clocked its plasterwork more than a decade ago.

‘I’m definitely an old soul who is always yearning for calm and safety, so I think my interiors innately have a softer edge to them,’ she explains. ‘I adore antiques and love nothing more than being in a space that’s welcoming and tells a story. That’s ultimately my aesthetic – if you can call it that.’

The slowly sourced and accrued pieces within her home adhere to that longing for objects with soul – pieces that carry stories, absorb more as they go, and will one day be passed down, taking new tales with them.

‘Our dining table was the first item we bought together,’ she remembers. ‘It’s made from decommissioned antique fishing boats and was originally a large coffee table. It was too big for our space when we renovated, but we couldn’t bear to part with it, so we had it turned into a smaller dining table and bench.’

Another treasured piece – a hand-carved figure – has dual significance. Not only did it serve as a hiding place for childhood treasures, but it’s also a literal representation of her beloved grandmother. ‘It was carved in her likeness by an old family friend, once an admirer of hers, who is no longer with us. There’s a secret compartment in the base where I used to stash little treasures.’

And then there’s her basket collection. ‘I have more than I can keep track of!’ she laughs. ‘Many are stored at my mother and sister-in-law’s houses. Each one tells a story.’

Though now working as an interiors and food stylist, her creative world first began to blossom while she was working as a nurse. It was only with the arrival of her son – a seismic shift in anyone’s life – that she paused, took stock, and began to fully pursue what had long lit her up.

‘It’s been a very slow and winding path,’ Samara explains. ‘I spent most of my adult life working ‘officially’ as a nurse while dabbling in styling, interiors, and photography on the side. When I had my son, it felt as though I was reborn too. I finally felt brave enough to leave nursing behind and make these creative pursuits my ‘official’ career. It’s been wonderful, and it’s still unfolding.’

Perhaps because Samara’s ‘dabbling’ coexisted with the demands of healthcare, her sensibility is inherently – and winningly – realistic. ‘Nothing is too precious – life’s too short,’ she agrees. ‘I try not to incorporate anything that needs too much care. I want my home to feel welcoming, and for people to leave feeling lighter and more loved than when they arrived.’

She brings nature in through fresh flowers and foliage and lights beeswax candles daily – ‘great for purifying the air and setting an intention.’ Family polaroids line the fridge, bringing her joy. ‘I’d like to start adding more family photos to our space. I think that’s something modern interiors lack a little – myself included!’

She adds, ‘I love items that are tactile. The depth a textured quilt, throw or cushion can add to a space is never to be underestimated. You’ll never find my bed, sofa or armchairs without cushions in varying textures and sizes. Quilts are great for moving around the house – snuggling on the sofa, making dens, or layering on the bed.’

Matilda Velvet Patchwork Quilt, featured 

Currently adding a fresh layer of texture is Rowen & Wren’s new Matilda quilt. ‘I absolutely love the weight of it,’ she says. ‘It’s helped so much with my sleep. The quality is extraordinary, and I know it’s something we’ll cherish for years to come.’

Also contributing to restorative slumber: a pair of pyjamas from The Spring/Summer Collection. ‘I wish I had two pairs – I get so sad when I have to wash them! The embroidered detail is so romantic, and they’re just incredibly comfy.

Embroidered Pyjamas, featured

As with everything in Samara’s orbit, it’s about the way we live in a space. Nothing feels staged or static – everything is lived-in, liveable, and gently layered. The Arlo shade from Rowen & Wren is no exception. It found its home on the dining table entirely by accident – and then never left.

‘I didn’t realise I needed a lamp on our dining table,’ Samara laughs. ‘I placed it there temporarily while setting it up, but I’ve fallen in love with the soft glow it adds during family meals or while I work in the morning light.’

Arlo Card Lampshade, Olive Trim, featured

It’s the stuff of memories – the kind that gather slowly through daily rituals, not grand events. Which brings us to Samara’s parting advice for keen renovators and home-lovers alike: ‘Let your sentimental side loose. Decorate in a way that reminds you of a special place or person – either literally or the way they made you feel. Incorporate pieces that belonged to someone before you, whether inherited or found – if it makes you feel something, it will always lead to a home that feels personal and interesting.’

Amen to that.

Interview by Nancy Alsop