Originally from London, Francesca moved to East Sussex 17 years ago. For the past two years, she has lived in her current house, transforming it into something that feels far older than its actual twenty years.
“I wanted it to feel as though it had always been here,” she says.
The mirror and table in the dining room are auction finds.
That meant repainting, rearranging, and layering in antiques, textiles, and rich tones. She lives here with her husband and four sons, after many years in London.
“I still go into the city for work – I always will – but I love the pace of the countryside. It’s a good balance.”
Favourite Corners
The kitchen is the heart of the home – open, bright, and designed as a space where everyone naturally gathers. Another favourite is her recently renovated bathroom: a serene spot offering a rare moment of privacy.
“It’s just mine,” she laughs. “With four boys, it’s my sanctuary.”
Her recently redone bathroom is one of her favourite places. "With four boys, it's a real sanctuary."
A Lifelong Passion for Detail
Francesca’s love of interiors started early.
“As a child, I used to read Country Life and pore over auction catalogues,” she recalls. “Even then, I was fascinated by objects with a past.”
"Hanging plates on the wall as an inexpensive and indeed attractive solution to wall art", says Francesca.
That fascination never left her. Today, she still scours antiques fairs, online auctions, charity shops, Instagram dealers, and eBay – always on the lookout for pieces with personality.
“I collect ceramics, and once brought home an asparagus plate from a trip simply because I couldn’t leave it behind,” she says. “Even on holiday, I’m hunting – I can’t help myself.”
The boys bathroom was totally transformed and now has a luxurious walk in shower.
Her home is filled with finds that carry character: a velvet “kissing chair” that waited patiently during the renovation, and an Art Deco chaise longue in a vivid Pucci-style fabric, affectionately named Doris, a piece she instantly fell for without knowing where it would belong. It eventually found its place in her Goodnestone Park project, where it now resides permanently.
“I didn’t know where it would go when I bought it – I just knew I had to have it.”
"Often when I choose bold colours there are a few raised eyebrows, but then at last stage when all the fabrics, soft furnishings and accessories are added, my questioners see the room come together", says Francesca.
Memory and Meaning
The most sentimental piece, however, is a Victorian vanity mirror that once belonged to her grandmother.
“I remember sitting at her dressing table trying on jewellery. Now I keep small personal things there, like my children’s baby teeth.”
She dreams of owning a beautiful four-poster bed one day – “even if the old ones are always too short for modern sleepers!” – and admits she still feels the sting of lost auctions.
“Jewellery sales especially. I think something will stay within reach, and then the price shoots up. I always underestimate how competitive they are.”
Every Object Tells a Tale
For Francesca, interiors are about more than decoration – they’re a way of weaving a narrative, where each object carries its own voice.
Francesca fell in love with this Art Deco chaise lounge instantly. She named it Doris.
“There’s a sense of theatre to it all – like period dramas or old films. Who slept in that bed? Who once used this mirror? It’s all part of building a story. And that’s what makes a home personal.”
Want to know more about Francesca Rowan-Plowden? Check out her Instagram @francescarowanplowden.
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