The new collection of wallpapers, bone china, tiles, lampshades and artwork is the natural next step for the celebrated interior designer Cindy Leveson. She talks to Jessica Jonzen about what inspired The CL Collection
'CORNFLOWER STRIPE' WALLPAPER IN PINK GREEN, SEEN IN THE BEDROOM OF ONE OF THE DAIRY COTTAGES AT GOODWOOD. IMAGE: MIKE CALDWELL
Cindy Leveson is arguably one of the UK’s most respected interior designers, known for richly layered, inviting interiors rooted in classic English style. Raised among antiques and art, she founded Leveson Design in 1990 and has since built a reputation for spaces that feel timeless yet entirely lived-in, including extensive work across the Goodwood Estate, where she has created elegant, comfortable interiors for its members' club, houses and cottages.
The recent launch of The CL Collection was Cindy's natural next chapter. Spanning wallpapers, bone china, tiles, lampshades and artwork, the collection is characterful and refreshingly unforced, made up of pieces designed to sit comfortably in a room rather than steal the show. She tells us more...
Huge congratulations on launching the CL Collection. What prompted you to expand into product design?
Honestly, I never planned to do a product collection at all. The Watercolour Collection I designed for Shame Studios only happened because Hector [Coombs, Founder of Shame Studios] didn’t give up on a rather reluctant designer – he’s very persuasive. After that, I got the bug.
Your interiors feel warm, layered and timeless. How did you translate that into the collection?
I wanted to design pieces that add atmosphere rather than overpower a room – things that can sit in almost any interior and feel at home. Everything had to be well thought out, beautifully detailed and able to sit quietly in the background. I kept coming back to my favourite colour palette because its warmth and softness helped anchor the collection and make it easy to layer.
The collection started with a plate designed for a press lunch. How did that come about?
We were hosting a lunch for 20 members of the press and thought it would be fun to design the plates they’d eat from. That idea came just one week before the launch. I found a UK maker who could do it in time, which meant designing two plates in one evening. Seeing people actually eating off them confirmed what I suspected – I wanted to do more. That was really the beginning of the CL Collection.
CINDY LEVESON, PHOTOGRAPHED WITH ONE OF THE WATERCOLOUR COLLECTION RUGS SHE DESIGNED IN COLLABORATION WITH SHAME STUDIOS. IMAGE: JONATHAN JAMES WILSON
Many of the designs are hand-drawn or painted by you. Can you tell us about your artistic background?
Both my parents could draw, and there were lots of artists on my maternal grandmother’s side, so it always felt quite natural. I studied at Kingston Art School; fashion wasn’t my forte, but illustration was. I was taught by Colin Barnes, who drew and painted at speed, which I love. The best advice I ever got there was that presentation is 50% of the job – and it’s something I’ve stuck to ever since.
You’ve used your wallpapers and tiles at Goodwood, where you’ve worked extensively. How does that feel?
It’s incredibly exciting. Across the cottages I used Harebell and Posy wallpapers, Cornflower Stripe papers and borders, and both bespoke and existing tiles. Seeing my own designs come to life in spaces I’ve worked on for years feels very special. In one kitchen, I designed a bespoke crackle tile with images relating to Goodwood, and in the other I used the Cornflower blue and white tiles which look fresh and pretty. One of the bedrooms had the cornflower stripe wallpaper in pink and green and we used the same colourway for the shower tiles and basin splashback.
Comfort and atmosphere are central to your work. How do those ideas shape the collection?
Colour gives a room its atmosphere and identity. Sometimes it’s just the wallpaper doing the heavy lifting while everything else stays quite simple. I used soft off-white backgrounds throughout the wallpapers and tiles because stark white can feel harsh – especially on a grey day. The lampshades add warmth with a soft gold interior, and the bone china is designed to work almost anywhere while still bringing personality to the table.
You’ve been designing interiors for over 30 years. How has that experience influenced the products?
I design what I personally love and what I believe to be timeless. Trends come and go, but the most successful designs last forever. I have always been drawn to small prints and florals, which became the natural starting point for my wallpapers. They fulfilled something I knew I wanted but simply couldn’t find elsewhere!
THE HALLWAY AT ONE OF GOODWOOD'S DAIRY COTTAGES, FEATURING THE 'FLORA BLUE BORDER' BY THE CL COLLECTION. IMAGE: MIKE CALDWELL
There’s a strong sense of personality throughout the collection. How important is storytelling?
It’s instinctive. I design what I want to live with myself. The first wallpaper design actually came from doodling on my iPad.
Why was it important to produce everything in the UK?
I am really proud that everything is made in the UK. Supporting British makers feels more important than ever, and it really came into focus after Brexit when suddenly the import duties were extortionate. I think some of us should thought of this sooner and embrace what we have on our doorstep.
What’s next for the CL Collection?
Looking ahead, I don’t have a big game plan but, I do think products and designs will just keep on appearing because things continually pop up in my head that I like and you might too. It may be rather an organic way of thinking but, as Iwasn’t really thinking of doing any products until very recently it feels right to continue in this vein.
'CORNFLOWER' TILES FROM THE CL COLLECTION, USED IN ONE OF THE KITCHENS AT THE DAIRY COTTAGES, GOODWOOD. IMAGE: MIKE CALDWELL
'POSY' WALLPAPER USED IN ONE OF THE DAIRY COTTAGES' BEDROOMS. IMAGE: MIKE CALDWELL
Until 31st March 2026, members of The Staying In Crowd have an exclusive 15% off all the wallpapers, borders and lampshades in The CL Collection. Sign up here to join the club.
