Textile and wallpaper designer Molly Mahon constantly tests out her exuberant patterns in the rooms of her own home, Deerhyrst. Nestled deep in England’s ancient Ashdown Forest, the winsome cottage bears her family’s very joyful and welcoming stamp, and serves as a kind of living lab for her creative work.


The cherished landscape over the fireplace inspired the colors Molly and her children used to paint the mantel in the sitting room. To the left, Molly upholstered a chair she inherited from her grandmother in her own Leaf pattern, launching with Schumacher in February 2021, and used Luna by Molly Mahon for the sconce shades. Available through Schumacher.Sarah Hogan
Ask British surface designer Molly Mahon to point out the most precious thing in her home, and her answer sums up her entire philosophy toward family, work, and life in one sentiment: “It’s how I feel in it—that’s the most important thing,” she says. So when she, her husband, Rollo, and their three children, Lani, Algie, and Orlando, moved into a down-at-its-heels cottage at the end of a bumpy road in rural Sussex, England, Molly set about remaking the formerly dark house into a warm, cozy home without an intentional plan, but with that sentiment always in mind.
The rooms are like the pages of a family album, each containing treasured memories. Rather than hunting down the perfect lamp or designer chair, Molly incorporated pieces imbued with meaning into her schemes: a kitchen dresser inherited from Rollo’s grandmother, paintings bequeathed by her parents, artwork by her children. She loves that the house reflects the shared journey of her marriage and the evolution of her family.

The large ceramic farmhouse sink fits the home’s chic-rustic vibe and is also supremely functional. The pattern on the window shade was one of Molly’s first block-printing experiments. Cabinet curtains in Spot & Star, launching with Schumacher in February 2021.Sarah Hogan
Graphic hot-pink tiles form a backdrop for Molly’s prized Everhot cooker.Sarah Hogan
Jaunty block-printed paper cut into scallop-shaped borders conceals the open shelves’ unfinished edges. “I love seeing all my pots and pans and plates and glasses,” Molly says.
“I don’t want to hide them away behind closed doors.”Sarah Hogan

When remodeling the kitchen, Molly and Rollo, both of whom are tall, had the floor dug out a few feet to extend the height of the room. Molly scoured the U.K. to find the wide oak floorboards.Sarah Hogan
Not to mention the evolution of her business. “I never dreamed I could make a business out of something creative,” she says. “Initially I just wanted to make things for myself.” But as she continued setting up house, blockprinting all manner of components to satisfy her appetite for pattern and color—lampshades, paper bunting, dish cloths—she found that others shared her hunger for such happy, charming prints, and Molly Mahon the brand was born. She’s been experimenting with new ideas in the cottage’s nooks and crannies ever since. “I’m a bit lavish about how often I redecorate,” she explains. “My home is an always-changing canvas. But I think it’s really important to try things out in my own house, because I want to know that something feels right and looks lovely before I promote it to other people.”

A kitchen dresser inherited from Rollo’s grandmother shows off a bright mix of mugs, plates and mementos. Apron in Coffee Bean, launching with Schumacher in February 2021. Dog bed in handblock-printed Bagru by Molly Mahon. Available through Schumacher, .Sarah Hogan
Molly’s decorating ethos has also been influenced by Charleston, the nearby farmhouse-turned-museum that was the home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and where they entertained their Bloomsbury Group friends. “I visit regularly, and still feel the same incredible excitement as I did the first time I was there,” Molly says. “Vanessa Bell was very experimental and not afraid to ignore convention. That’s been really empowering for me.” It’s what freed her to paint her fireplace mantel without a second thought. “I got out my pots of paint on a wet Sunday afternoon and I just went to work,” she says. “The kids did the bits down the sides, so they feel they’ve made their marks, too.”
The red piano was a gift from a family friend who used to look after the children. The print of a Matisse cut-out above it is a creative touchstone for Molly. “His color sensibility is incredible,” she says, “it definitely influences my work.”Sarah Hogan
The sitting room’s walls
are in Parsonage Pink by Ben Pentreath for Papers and Paints, “a delicious color that’s warm and cozy at night and freshens up during the day,” says Molly.Sarah Hogan

In the upstairs bathroom, Molly banished cold tile in favor of inviting painted wood and vibrant pattern. Walls in Coral by Molly Mahon, available through Schumacher.Sarah Hogan
The master bedroom sports a fabric lampshade in handblock-printed Bagru by Molly Mahon. Bedcover in Coffee Bean, launching with Schumacher in February 2021. Sarah Hogan
The art above the bunkbeds in
the room of Molly’s youngest son is a favorite find from Sri Lanka. Walls in Spot & Star by Molly Mahon, available through Schumacher. Sarah Hogan