Restorative Home Decor: How Designer Olive Cooke Creates a Calm Family Sanctuary

Finding the perfect sofa for family living

The Jasper Sofa sits at the heart of the living room, grounded by a chaise on each side. The layout of the setting frames the space with balance, creating a sense of enclosure that invites you to settle in.

“When designing a home, I think it’s vital to have something that really anchors the living area, a comfortable piece you can focus everything else around.”

Here, Olive shares why the Jasper Sofa felt right for her family home:

The choice of fabrics

Olive's choice of Whiteley Silkstone, part of the new Luxury Weaves Fabric Collection, brings a gentle, relaxed quality that complements the natural palette throughout the home.

“I was so drawn to Jasper in this beautiful woven finish,” Olive says. “It feels really tactile and soft, while also being incredibly comfortable.”

Made to order, Jasper is available in over 200 fabric and leather options, each offering a different expression of warmth and texture.

Layered with the Zazina Rectangle Cushion in Lexington Natural, and the Zazina Square Cushion in Lexington Warm Sable, the comfort of the fabrics invite you to sink in and lounge for hours.

Its modular form

The adaptability of Jasper was just as important for Olive’s family.

"The modular aspect of Jasper is such a gift with a family. Being able to move things around makes the space feel dynamic and exactly what we need."

With a patented component system, seats, arms, backs and shelves can be rearranged, the chaise switched, or the sofa transformed into a guest bed depending on what the day calls for.

Tailored personal comfort

For Olive, comfort was never an afterthought.

Jasper can be tailored with feather, memory foam or premium firm seat cushions, shaping the feel of the sofa to suit her family’s preferences. Behind, Ultradown® and feather back cushions bring a softer, more relaxed finish.

“I wanted it to feel practical, but still comfortable. With family and friends always coming through, plus the baby and the dog, it made sense to lean into something warmer and more inviting.”

Timber as a calming anchor

Natural materials have always shaped the feeling of a calming home for Olive. Throughout Field House, timber appears in varied tones and textures: warm oak underfoot, weathered panelling, a refined coffee table.

“I love mixing timbers. It brings such a sense of warmth and gentle energy to a space,” she shares.

For her sofa, Olive chose integrated shelves in American Walnut, one of the signature finish options at King Living alongside Smoked Oak, Natural Oak and Onyx.

"I was really drawn to the timber elements of Jasper," she adds. "They fitted in with our living room so beautifully.”

It's a design philosophy that extends to the architecture itself. Simple lines and high ceilings allow light to move freely, while timber grounds the living space with an earthy presence that echoes the landscape beyond the windows.

"An interior that connects to its surroundings feels all the more intimate, and restorative."

Designing a home intertwined with nature

For Olive, one of the simplest décor ideas for creating a calming home is to let the landscape lead. Nurture natural light and views, then reflect those qualities through natural textures and a muted palette.

"Field House is mostly open plan. Everywhere you turn, there’s an element of greenery, and a sense of the outside coming in. The calming connection to nature is my favourite part of the space," she shares.

The Byron climate invited it. Warm and a little unpredictable, the weather called for big sliding doors, timber frames and open transitions between interior and garden.

Even the smallest details carry this thread. In Paloma's room, a mobile made by Olive's father hangs above the bed, crafted from driftwood and shells collected by the ocean.

“It hangs above her bed and she loves it,” she reflects. “We grew up by the beach, always collecting treasures. There is not a single shell in this world that has the same print. I find the patterns so inspiring when it comes to my design work with Cooke Swim."

Creating calm and comfort with a personal touch

The calming atmosphere at Field House comes down to thoughtful, unhurried layers that make the room feel intentional, not styled.

“I wanted the space to feel really warm, soft and grounded,” Olive says.

From there, she adds meaning rather than clutter, choosing décor that quietly locates the home in memory. “I love having books and trinkets I’ve collected along the way, things that remind me of family, friends or a trip we took.”

Greenery softens the space in its own way, offering a sense of movement to still corners. “I like to bring an element of life into the room. Plants and flowers add a fresh but gentle touch.”

Throughout the space, personal history weaves into the present. Artwork from Henry’s late aunt hangs on the walls. Vintage finds from her parents sit alongside newer designs that will, in time, hold their own stories.

“The décor in this room is very family-oriented,” she adds. “There’s an energy to that.”

A sanctuary shaped by family

Field House is above all, where a home for three—Olive, Henry, and pup Pickle—became a family of four. The space grew alongside them.

"We moved here when the property was not a hundred percent finished," she shares. "There is a beautiful moment that comes with living in a space before it is complete. You get to know the house and see which areas are really high traffic."

From there, choices became clearer. "With a baby, we need a lot of comfortable areas we can use throughout the day."  That understanding shaped everything, from the way the Jasper Sofa anchors the living room to the open flow between kitchen and garden.  

Built on the King Steel Frame and Postureflex Seating System, Jasper offers comfort designed to last a lifetime, and was chosen with longevity in mind. "It's timeless," Olive reflects. "It's a sofa we hope to have here for a while, one that will be passed through generations."

That same patience shaped the entire home, which wasn't designed in a single moment but grew around what each day asked for. 

“I'm still working out being a new mum, but having the support of family and friends, especially when I do have those bigger workdays, means there's always that village around.” 

That's what calm home décor really offers: space for the rituals of motherhood, for gathered evenings and quiet mornings, for a family finding its footing together. 

"We welcomed our daughter here," Olive closes. "That will always make it special."

Five designer takeaways for calming home décor

1. Anchor the living area with a comfortable, modular design

Choose a sofa you can rearrange as your needs shift, creating a focal point that adapts to family life.

2. Mix timbers throughout the home

Varied tones and textures bring warmth and gentle energy, connecting each room to the landscape.

3. Let natural light and views guide your palette

Reflect the outdoors through muted tones and natural materials that enhance the calming connection to nature.

4. Layer with meaning, not clutter

Fill your home with books, artwork and collected treasures that hold personal history and quiet significance.

5. Bring life into the room with greenery

Plants and fresh flowers add a soft, dynamic touch that makes the space feel lived-in and gently restorative.

Continue the conversation

• Connect with Olive on Instagram
• Interior design tips: Creating a family-friendly home
• Read: 7 things to consider before buying a Jasper Sofa

 Discover more calming home décor ideas:

• Slow living: How designer Brahman Perera makes space for what matters most
• The earthy home tour: Natural décor ideas for every room
• Biophilic design: 8 ways to style your home inspired by nature