An Interview with Sally Worts from @sallydoessassy
Words by Michaela Quinn
March 18, 2021
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4m
Interior stylist Sally Worts of @sallydoessassy has transformed her Victorian Yorkshire barn into a kaleidoscope of pattern and style! We met interior stylist Sally Worts when she let us use her garden for one of our outdoor furniture shoots. Here she tells us a little more about her gorgeous home and garden, stamped with her own bold and distinctive style.
From the outside, Sally Worts’ home looks like a regular handsome sandstone house with rolling views over the North Yorkshire countryside. But step through the front door of this 140-year-old converted barn and it’s a completely different story.
With its daringly dark colour palette, its maximalist approach to pattern and its eclectic artworks and accessories, Sally’s home is like no country home you’ve ever seen before, and of course, we love it!
It will come as no surprise to hear that Sally is a stylist and interiors blogger with a fast-growing following of people seeking inspiration for their own homes. She lives in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside with her husband Chris and sixteen-year-old son Rhys, and also has three adult sons. We met when we shot our Outdoor Rooms feature in her garden and fell in love with her stylish home and her warm welcome.
Rock and roll meets rural living
Take a glimpse at this converted barn’s bold backdrop and it may be difficult to imagine it in its former glory – think bright orange pine. “It was everywhere - like living in a sauna without the heat.” Sally recalls.
Now with its own inimitable identity, every inch is perfectly put together with brave yet considered clashes of pattern, luxurious textures that add warmth and glorious gallery walls that inject even more personality – oh, and we haven’t even mentioned THAT leopard-print stair carpet yet. Swoon!
Each room is as inviting and dramatic as the next, combining wallpaper and striking black walls with handpicked furnishings that pop.
When asked which is her favourite room, Sally understandably found it hard to choose.
“I love them all! I mindfully decorated the whole house so that each space flows seamlessly into another, including the inside to the outside.
“I have just redecorated the master bedroom transforming it from a dark floral boudoir vibe to a much lighter New York loft type of feel, whilst still incorporating my signature beloved leopard print. I sourced some vintage walnut wardrobes and we added a contemporary four poster bed. The vintage edgy mix sums my style up perfectly.”
A walk on the wild side – in wellies
While many seek to invite the outdoors in with natural textures and greenery, Sally has mastered the art of al fresco living by extending her eclectic styling outside too.
“Designing the veranda and courtyard has given us a whole new living space and because it’s under cover we use it all year round,” says Sally. “I wanted it to be an extension of our inside space and decorated using the same colour palette as inside the house. I also used accessories which I would use inside, such as rugs, velvet cushions and a long Edwardian dining table (which we can always manage to squeeze one extra person around) with enormous gold disco balls hung above.”
The traditional countryside courtyard has been transformed into a glorious garden room guaranteed to draw the whole family out of their bedrooms – perhaps with the added promise of some home-cooked food fresh from the pizza oven!
Her sensational outdoor living space and styling bridges the gap between outdoor furniture and traditional interior furnishings.
The great thing about defined outdoor living spaces like Sally’s is the ability to switch out the textiles for each season, with faux sheepskins lining rattan chairs to add a layer of warmth during winter – while in summer, Moroccan rugs and cushions will transform the space and add a Mediterranean appeal.
“I like nothing more than having all four boys, their partners and my Dad here,” says Sally. “We open the bar doors onto the veranda, fire the pizza oven up and finish the evening with a few beers around the fire pit and some music. In winter months we love having friends around for long lazy Sunday lunches or cosy kitchen suppers.”
No matter the weather, settle down for the evening under the many bright lights and disco balls by the roaring firepit and it’s easy to forget you’re in fact nestled in North Yorkshire.
Why it works
For some, an all-dark interior would be a risk, but for Sally, it has certainly paid off. Albeit exaggerated and out of the ordinary, there’s something timeless about this interior scheme.
Sally explains: “I seem to have really found my style with this house, possibly because it’s our forever home. I only design and decorate to please myself and if other people like it too that’s just a bonus. It’s not what people expect to see when they step inside an old barn. It’s definitely got a sexy rock and rock feel to it. I’ve put my heart and soul into it and it fills me with joy.”
And while it’s clear a lot of work has gone into creating this one-of-a-kind home, the whole look is effortless and is sure to be an inspiration to many – including ourselves.
You can find Sally’s beautiful bold home on Instagram @sallydoessassy and be inspired by her signature styling. We’re officially obsessed.