Description Papel Picado: London

With an exposed brick wall, lots of wooden furniture and an abundance of indoor plants, this quaint home has brought a laid-back, exotic vibe to East London. While it’s a small home, spaces such as the corner kitchen nook have been thoughtfully curated to feel inviting and bright. Some would think that combining a turquoise velvet sofa, an Acapulco armchair and an inventive wooden coffee table (with books for legs) would feel mismatched and confused, but, your host has shown her eye for design and creativity by bringing them together in a playful, stylish way.

Home truths:
* There are plenty of stairs here – firstly, up to the courtyard and then up to the door of the home
* The smoke alarm is in the corridor, not the actual home
* It is small and the bathroom in particular is a bit of a squeeze, especially when the inwards opening door is open
* There's not a TV as such, there's a projector and a HDMI cable which you can use to plug in your laptop
* There is no real dining area – just one stool by the kitchen counter