A Regency Reverie: sketch in Bloom Celebrates Jane Austen Through Immersive Floral Design
This May, the iconic London destination sketch unveils the 11th edition of its much-anticipated annual exhibition, sketch in Bloom — a floricultural celebration paying tribute to Jane Austen’s legacy on what would be her 250th birthday. Set within its Grade II*-listed Mayfair townhouse, once home to the Royal Institute of British Architects and later Christian Dior’s London atelier, sketch redefines interior storytelling through art, design, and nature.
From 1 May to 1 June 2025, sketch invites visitors to step inside an imaginative, design-led tribute to one of Britain’s most treasured literary figures. Merging the romanticism of Regency-era England with contemporary floral artistry, the venue’s neoclassical interiors are transformed into a dreamscape of wild gardens, theatrical installations, and painterly details — each deeply rooted in Austen’s world.
A Garden of the Imagination
Award-winning florists Lucy Vail Floristry, Rob Van Helden, and Ricky Paul reinterpret Austen’s novels through the language of design. The journey begins at the entrance façade, where a botanical archway of clematis, foxgloves, and forget-me-nots signals the sensory experience within. Inside, the reception and entrance hall unfurl into a whimsical meadow, framed by Regency-style panelling and wall murals by artist Meg Boscowen. Blue-hued walls and seasonal British blooms immerse guests in Austen’s beloved countryside — all enhanced by the subtle layering of birdsong, floral scent, and spoken passages from her novels.
A freestanding pergola, its dome adorned with cascading book pages, becomes a striking centrepiece. Beneath it sits an antique writing desk, inviting visitors into a staged photo moment where Austen’s words seemingly swirl through the air — a visual metaphor for the enduring power of her imagination.
Regency Meets Reverie in The Glade and Lecture Room
Further inside, The Glade is transformed into a romantic arboreal canopy. Cream lace parasols filled with vibrant florals echo the Regency-era motif of garden strolls, referencing Austen’s quote from Mansfield Park: “To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” This visual poetry continues in The Lecture Room & Library, where floral designer Rob Van Helden introduces a breathtaking central wisteria tree. Crafted from fresh bark and moss, its lilac blooms entwine with the room’s existing opulence — silver-threaded ivory walls, orange accents, and amethyst velvet seating — creating a harmonious fusion of interior architecture and floral sculpture.
At the tree’s base, a stylised reading nook with antique furniture and Austen’s novels invites pause, reflection, and photographic interaction. Here, design and literature converge to honour both Austen’s legacy and the artistry of immersive spatial storytelling.
A Botanical Portrait of Austen
Even sketch’s infamous Pod Loos are reimagined by Ricky Paul in a contemporary floral installation blending soft femininity with playful grandeur. Moss topiaries, preserved rose-petal wisteria, and climbing vines wind through the stairwell and across the pods, forming a visual crescendo embodying Austen's characters' charm, wit, and elegance.
Design as Immersion and Tribute
This year’s sketch in Bloom is more than a visual feast — it is a living, breathing homage to one of the most influential female voices in literature, filtered through the lens of high-concept floral and interior design. Limited-edition Pride and Prejudice and Emma books, created in collaboration with Penguin, add collectable appeal. At the same time, an exclusive Austen-themed afternoon tea served in ornate silver teaware offers a multisensory indulgence (£115pp).
For designers, stylists, and creatives, this installation is a masterclass in how spatial design, floristry, and heritage can be woven into immersive cultural experiences. At a time when fast visuals dominate, sketch continues to elevate slow, intentional design, where craftsmanship, narrative, and atmosphere converge in a world unlike any other.
All photography: Mark Cocksedge
