When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry renovated Beggars Cottage, a six bedroom country getaway on the Great Tew estate in the Cotswolds they reportedly called on one of the most in-demand interior designers of the moment, Vicky Charles of Charles & Co.
Formerly Global Head of Design at the Soho House Group, Vicky was instrumental in finessing the members club’s much-imitated style, overseeing the interiors at outposts in Malibu and Istanbul, as well as Soho Farmhouse, which is just a stone’s throw away from Harry and Meghan’s second home.
She is one half of Charles & Co; Julia Corden, who was introduced to Charles by Soho House founder Nick Jones, heads up the business side of the operation.
The duo’s client list reads like a who’s who of celebrity, on both sides of the Atlantic: they’ve renovated the Beckhams’ Cotswolds estate (incidentally, it’s just around the corner from Beggars Cottage), designed the nursery for George and Amal Clooney’s twins, Ella and Alexander and worked on Goop’s ‘general store’-style pop-up in the Hamptons for Gwyneth Paltrow.
Looking back at some of Charles' greatest design hits, here's what Harry and Meghan's home may have looked like...
Vicky charles interiors - Grazia
1 of 13Subtle colour clash
You'd never think to put pistachio green with deep red wood, but this muted colour clash just works...
2 of 13Exposed brick
This rustic effect would be perfect for Harry and Meghan's country bolthole...
3 of 13Exposed wooden beams
The same goes for these original beams, which have been cleverly integrated into the fresh, modern design of Goop's Hamptons outpost...
4 of 13Eclectic accessories
If The Tig could be summed up in a piece of statement wall art, it would surely be this...
5 of 13Grown-up colour schemes
A peachier shade of pink acts as a warm and welcoming backdrop, and will outlast the 'millennial' Insta-clichés...
6 of 13Pendant lights
For a sleek, modern effect...
7 of 13Velvet armchairs
Yes, Soho House is probably to blame for the flood of old-fashioned (and ever-so cosy) velvet armchairs on your Instagram feed...
8 of 13Free-standing baths - in bedrooms
What could be more luxurious?
9 of 13Chintzy patterns
Light shades and complementary patterns help this stop feeling heavy or old-fashioned...
10 of 13Old-fashioned touches
Like this old wood burner...
11 of 13Eccentric lighting
You'll often see extravagant light fixtures in Charles & Co designs, juxtaposed against a stripped back, industrial-style backdrop. We imagine Harry and Meghan have probably got a spare chandelier (or five) knocking around, so it's hardly a stretch to picture a similar look in their home...
12 of 13Bringing the indoors out
And vice versa: Vicky's designs often play around with the boundaries between inside and out, just like this garden sofa with pendant lighting...
13 of 13Eye-catching tiles
A hallmark of the Soho House properties which Vicky has curated is the bold use of tiles, which are usually printed with geometric or vintage patterns...