Inside Norfolk artist, Petra Boase’s Norwich home

Step inside the Norwich home of Petra Boase, artist, illustrator, and founder of her eponymous design studio, and you’ll immediately sense a world where creativity, calm, and charm co-exist.

Petra and her family live in a 1950s semi near Heigham Park, with a unique slice of greenery at the end of their garden, a two-acre patch owned by the Scouts. “It’s one of those pockets that just sang to me,” she says, reflecting on their move to Norwich at the age of 50, a decision that felt like a true-life regeneration.

Being close to her studio allows Petra to hop on her bike and be there in ten minutes, or head in the other direction to enjoy the Sainsbury Centre and Henry Moore sculptures in the same amount of time.

The house itself had “great bones,” a perfect canvas for Petra’s love of considered spaces and mid-century-inspired design. The family prioritised their children’s rooms when they moved in, leaving Petra and her husband Russell in what was once the box room until a recent attic conversion transformed it into a light-filled bedroom and en-suite, a “game-changer” for the couple.

Every corner of their home tells a story. Quirky objects collected on travels or discovered in bric-a-bracs sit harmoniously alongside heirlooms, like a wall cabinet filled with mugs inherited from Petra’s aunt in Pimlico or their long oak dining table. “Something you use every day that’s been passed down is a lovely connection,” she notes. The aesthetic is calm and considered muted tones, plastered walls, and nods to designers Robin and Lucienne Day create a serene, mid-century vibe.

Petra’s love for ritual and nature comes through in her daily life. Sweeping the floors, tending the garden, and visiting her city allotment for fresh vegetables are simple pleasures she treasures. “In summer, I head straight for the garden. It’s my leveller; as I get older, I appreciate nature around me,” she says.

The seasonal touch is never overlooked, either. Christmas is a time for paper chains, fairy lights, and homemade tinsel crafted from coloured tissue paper, adding playful warmth to the home.

Petra’s creative journey mirrors her domestic philosophy. Starting in editorial styling and children’s craft books before branching into TV and publishing, she launched Petra Boase in 1999, selling embroidered cards. Today, the studio produces stationery, iron-on patches, paper decorations, and risograph-printed art on responsibly sourced card, with sustainability and affordability at its core. Petra has maintained long-term relationships with customers, some spanning over two decades, sharing life’s milestones through their shared love of creativity.

From her considered interiors to her cherished heirlooms and daily rituals, Petra Boase’s Norwich home is a reflection of a life built around beauty, mindfulness, and imagination. a space where every object tells a story and every day offers a little magic.

Discover more about Petra’s design journey in our at home Magazine. Read the full article and more here