Frame the season: styling and capturing cosy spaces

For creative duo Sarah-Louise and Christopher Phelps, founders of No.17 House, winter offers an invitation to get cosy at home. Known for their timeless aesthetic and evocative photography, their work has taken them across continents and into collaborations with brands such as Aman, Ritz-Carlton, Bentley Motors and IWC Watches. Yet it’s within their London townhouse that their philosophy of stillness truly comes to life.

As the light fades and days grow shorter, home becomes our sanctuary. Winter calls for warmth and calm, spaces layered with texture, softened by candlelight and styled with intention. At our London home, No.17 House, we welcome the season through quiet transitions – natural materials, tonal depth and warm light that glows gently against plastered walls. Here, we share our approach to styling and photographing interiors that capture the beauty of winter’s stillness.

Bringing winter indoors

Winter interiors begin with texture and tone. Inspired by nature’s muted landscape, think soft neutrals, chalky whites, chocolate browns and moody undertones of moss and slate. These colours soothe the senses and allow materials to take the lead. At No.17 House, texture is everything. Plastered walls in natural white Marmorino subtly catch winter’s low light, while wool, linen and velvet add warmth through tactility.

Our No.17 House x Six The Residence collection embodies this philosophy, featuring timeless furniture crafted in natural fabrics and sculptural forms. Our Atelier Curved Sofa in chocolate velvet or our Solace Sheepskin Chair are designed to anchor a room in comfort and quiet luxury. Their presence encourages a slower pace – an invitation to stay in, to soften.

In winter, we like to create intimate “moments” within larger rooms to encourage slowing down and settling in. A reading corner with a lamp and blanket, a bench by the window for morning coffee, or a bedside tray with a candle and book all offer small sanctuaries within the home. Pulling furniture closer together can also enhance warmth and connection, whether that’s armchairs drawn nearer the fireplace or a side table positioned within reach for a cup of tea. These micro-spaces make a home feel nurturing and lived-in, inviting you to pause and enjoy the season.

Lighting and layering

As daylight shortens, the atmosphere becomes the new luxury. Begin with warm, ambient lighting such as dimmable sconces, table lamps and candlelight. At No.17 House, antique brass dimmers and soft-glow layered lighting allow spaces to shift from bright mornings to enveloping evenings. Aim for layers of light rather than a single overhead source and allow some shadow to remain, darkness adds atmosphere. Build texture thoughtfully, a sheepskin draped over a chair, a wool throw on a linen sofa, or ceramics grouped in threes bring subtle warmth. Our Haven Sheepskin Pouffe from our Six The Residence collaboration adds both tactility and sculptural shape, balancing beauty and practicality.

Scent and styling

Scent and styling play a quiet but powerful role in winter comfort. Choose grounding, natural fragrances such as cedarwood, amber or bergamot and allow lighting a candle to become part of your evening ritual. Every object should earn its place, every piece considered. A bowl of winter fruits or berry and fir branches arranged in a ceramic vase is often enough to evoke seasonal warmth. Keep the palette calm and cohesive so the home feels restful. Thoughtful details transform spaces into calming sanctuaries, making winter a season to embrace rather than endure.

Photographing winter’s warmth

Winter light is fleeting and soft, embrace it rather than resist it. Early mornings and late afternoons are the perfect times to shoot when the low sun reveals texture and atmosphere.

At No.17 House, the process begins with observation, how light moves across our plaster walls, catches the silver birch leaves to create dappled beams or how warm candlelight catches on brass. Turn off harsh overheads and let lamps and natural light tell the story. Keep frames calm and uncluttered, negative space conveys tranquillity. Focus on tactile details like linen creases, wool texture or candlelight dancing on surfaces. Winter photography is less about perfection and more about feeling, inviting the viewer to sense warmth through the image itself.

Beauty in everyday moments 

The most beautiful interiors are the ones that feel real, where the lived-in and the styled coexist naturally. We find beauty in quiet rituals, drawing the curtains at dusk, lighting a single candle, pouring tea into our favourite mugs on our marble island. When photographing these moments, don’t over stage them. Capture natural life, the rumple of cushions, steam rising from a cup, the glow of lamplight. Winter invites us to slow down, to find contentment in the hush of shorter days and the beauty of light fading across textured walls. Styling for the season isn’t about adding more, it’s about noticing more. So, as the season settles in, light the candle, fold the throw and let your home reflect the beauty of stillness.