Making a Royal Palace a Home

Our favorite girl, Kate, was spotted multiple times popping into various décor shops during her pregnancy, apparently actively involved with the redecorations of her family’s new apartment in Kensington Palace.  The apartment, 1A, is currently going through an extensive refurbishment, costing £1 million for repairs to the roof and other interior renovations.  Due to be completed this fall, I’m sure she and William are both looking forward to moving out of the modest two bedroom Nottingham Cottage on the palace grounds they’re currently residing in, to something with a little bit more space for their growing family.

Apartment 1A, is actually a four story home with 21 rooms, all needing to be newly appointed.  With all her visits to design stores, Kate looks as if she’s determined that the residence reflect both her and William’s style, making it a comfortable home for their growing family.

Based on her always-stylish choices in clothing, I would imagine Kate would prefer modern, clean lines and classic colors in her décor.  Being so down-to-Earth, it is hard to picture her living in a garish or ostentatious home, even though she is technically residing in a palace.  Like her personality, I envision her home to be warm and inviting, a lovely place to live.

I can only guess that decorating Apartment 1A has been a challenge, harmonizing the old with the new and making a home that is comfortable for raising a family.  It’s wonderful to see her so hands on, as this home will be a restful sanctuary for her very public family.  We thought it would be fun to take a look at some items we might expect to see in Kate’s new home (if only we were invited to visit).

Just hours after the Queen’s Coronation service, Kate was spotted shopping for fabrics at one of England’s high-end fabric companies, Bernard Throp & Co LTD.  Spending 45 minutes inside of the shop, it was reported that she picked out fabrics in beige and brown.  Based on the company’s new “The Duchess Collection” of fabrics, here’s a peek at what she might have gone home with, perfect for upholstering an oversized couch or hanging floor to ceiling as drapes. (Sloane, Park Wall Stripe on Park Side)

Kate and her mother, Carole, love to go antique shopping together and have been visiting a shop near their Berkshire home, the Hungerford Arcade, since 2005.  It seems as though Kate likes to add unique accents to her clean design to create a homely and one-of-a-kind look.  Last November, it was reported that she even haggled over £20 when purchasing a pair of Imari vases.  Wouldn’t these look lovely on a mantel or sideboard?

Back in April, Kate and Carole were spotted once again shopping together at Blue Almonds, a baby furniture retailer.  They walked away having purchased a white Moses basket for Prince George to sleep in.  If her selection of store suggests anything about the décor in George’s nursery, we should expect it to be filled with bespoke, solid wood pieces, made with classic lines and painted in colors that are suitable for a baby.  Blue Almond has even introduced a “Royal Collection,” with beautifully made furniture, perfect for a little royals’ living quarters.  It’s also been rumored that Kate chose a Beatrix Potter theme for the nursery, which would be fitting for the little English lad.