Exclusive Vintage Collector’s Classics released in collaboration with Penguin
For the highly anticipated 11th edition of sketch in Bloom,’ the iconic Mayfair ‘destination for experimentation’ presents a floricultural tribute to Jane Austen in celebration of what would be her 250th birthday.
Throughout its history, sketch – a renowned Grade II* listed building – has been home to an impressive litany of creative pioneers and institutions, from the esteemed Royal Institute of British Architects to the London atelier of Christian Dior.
From 1 May to 1 June 2025, sketch will transform its grand neoclassical spaces into a blooming homage to one of England’s best loved authors, Jane Austen. The illustrious London venue has invited some of the most sought-after floral designers to dive into the world and mind of this treasured writer, who brought us such unforgettable stories as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Mansfield Park.
This exhibition pays fitting tribute to Austen, who was famously a great lover of the outdoors and, of course, the quintessential English countryside.
Visitors can revel in the whimsy and romance of a dreamlike, wild English Garden, through captivating installations created by Lucy Vail Floristry, Ricky Paul and Rob Van Helden. Additional highlights include a ‘living portrait’ photo opportunity to pose as Austen herself, at a regency-style writing desk against a stunning countryside dreamscape created by artist Meg Boscowen.
As part of this elegant and immersive homage, sketch is offering a special afternoon tea inspired by Jane Austen, served in an exclusive silver ornate new tea set, for £115 per person.
sketch has also collaborated with Penguin on an exclusive edition of Pride & Prejudice and Emma. 200 copies of Pride & Prejudice and 200 copies of Emma will be available as limited-edition Vintage Collector’s Classics.
Reception & Entrance Hall – Lucy Vail Floristry
Passersby will be stopped in their tracks, drawn by the stunning archway façade adorned with clematis, rose trails, geraniums, catmint, foxgloves, daisies, buttercups and forget-me-nots. And from the moment guests step foot in the door, they will be whisked away into Jane Austen’s magical world of wild blooms, as though stepping through a time warp.
Here in the Entrance Hall and Reception, creative studio and sustainable floristry Lucy Vail Floristry presents an immersive installation that weaves throughout the space. Celebrating all of the natural beauty available in May, this installation invites you into a world of imagination, with seasonal plants in a regency inspired colour scheme growing across the floor, and meadows of flowers throughout the reception area.
Regency-style panelling on the walls, in the iconic blue prevalent at the time, will be incorporated, and in each alcove, the artist Meg Boscowen will paint a beautiful scene inspired by the British landscape, incorporating sketch motifs and references to Jane Austen. The installation features a striking freestanding pergola as a central statement piece, surrounded by the soothing sounds of birdsong that enhance the quintessentially British garden atmosphere.
When underneath the pergola, guests will look up to see books and pages falling from the domed ceiling, and they will be invited into a photo moment, sitting at a desk and chair around which pages swirl – a visual metaphor for her Austen’s incredible imagination. S
cents and sounds enhance this sensory-rich environment. Even from outside the front of the building visitors will hear the melodic sound of birdsong, and as the fragrance of florals draws them within, spoken excerpts from Austen’s novels can be heard throughout the reception hall, enveloping guests in her world in an immersive experience.
The Glade – Lucy Vail Floristry
LVF is also building upon their existing tree-inspired installation within The Glade, which blossoms throughout the year to celebrate key moments within the sketch calendar. As guests move past the entrance hall and step deeper into the world of Jane Austen.
In The Glade, this floral canopy proves the perfect framework on which to create an additional playful celebration if her birthday. In the words of Austen herself in Mansfield Park, ‘To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.’ What better place to do this than The Glade?! Bringing to life the world of Austen, LVF introduce an installation of cream lace parasols, an iconic symbol of the Regency era, to the tree canopy. Each parasol will be filled with colourful flowers, connecting the installation to the vibrant sweetie tones experienced within the Reception.
The Lecture Room & Library – Rob Van Helden
Designed by Rob Van Helden, the focal point of The Library will be a breathtaking central wisteria tree, with its branches elegantly extending beneath the existing chandelier and spreading across the ceiling.
Adorned with cascading lilac wisteria, the entire space will take on a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere. Van Helden’s artistic vision was inspired by Austen’s most loved stories, but also the opulent design of The Lecture Room itself – designed by Gabhan O’Keefe with its ivory walls of silver thread, ornate plasterwork ceiling, rich shades of orange, and sumptuous purple armchairs.
The tree trunk will be crafted from fresh bark and moss, creating a natural and organic foundation, and at the base of the tree, a charming vignette provides a picturesque photo opportunity for guests, featuring a vintage mini writing desk, a collection of Jane Austen books, and an antique floral chair.
Surrounding this scene, a lush garden will bloom with hydrangeas, irises, delphiniums, lupins, and seasonal flowering plants, evoking the romance, elegance and whimsy of an enchanting English garden out of a Jane Austen novel.
The Pod Loos – Ricky Paul
In celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, the installation in The Pods is designed by Ricky Paul to embody a contemporary yet soft and feminine aesthetic, reflecting the essence of Austen’s timeless elegance.
Delicately twisting vines, adorned with handmade wisteria stems fashioned from preserved rose petals, lead guests up the staircase – elegantly flanked with topiary trees – and wind their way around the pods, linking the entire space together as one.
At the heart of the installation lies a striking topiary figure of a quintessential Jane Austen character, crafted from lush moss, serving as a nod to the author’s enduring influence. Cascading from this central figure is a wild English garden that embodies the charm and beauty of Austen’s literary landscape.
A vibrant palette of pink, lilac, and purple delphiniums enhances the luxurious floral elements throughout the installation, while thoughtfully incorporated books pay homage to Austen’s literary legacy, creating a harmonious blend of nature and literature that captures the spirit of this beloved author.
“Jane Austen famously adored the countryside so what better birthday present could there be than to transform sketch’s iconic interiors into a quintessentially British garden? Visitors will step through our living archway of seasonal plants onto a garden path full of colour.
Everything from the painted walls, to the plant varieties chosen, draws inspiration from the Regency Era. We want guests to feel as though they are within Jane’s imagination as she pens her magical prose, and birdsong and pages of books will immerse them as they pass through the pergola.
As they walk deeper into sketch, guests will have the opportunity to sit at Jane’s desk as her writing swirls around them, set against the backdrop of muralist Meg Boscowen’s beautiful landscape.” – Autumn de Wilde, Director at Lucy Vail Floristry
“Sketch is the dream brief. They give us total creative freedom to let our imagination run wild—and that’s when the real magic happens. Our floral installations aren’t just pretty; they stop people in their tracks, spark conversation, and become part of the brand’s story through the content guests can’t help but share.” – Ricky Paul
“I am thrilled to be working with Sketch this year on The Lecture Room and Library, where we celebrate the whimsical spirit of Jane Austen. Inspired by the lilacs and purples of the existing interiors, we’ve crafted a breathtaking central wisteria tree, with its trunk made from fresh bark and moss, creating an organic foundation that echoes the charm of Austen’s world. Adorned with cascading lilac wisteria, this immersive floral installation captures the essence of an enchanting English garden, offering guests a truly magical experience that reflects both elegance and whimsy.” – Rob Van Helden
Afternoon Tea
An afternoon tea inspired by Jane Austen (priced £115 pp) will be served from 1st May – 1st June, including a glass of Pommery Brut Royal.
Sketch in Bloom 3 Michelin Star lunch menu
The Executive Chef of the Lecture Room and Library will be showcasing a deliciously decadent Sketch in Bloom 3 Michelin Star lunch throughout 1st May – 1st June. Priced at £150.
Cocktails
In partnership with Champagne Pommery, sketch’s Bars team have imagined a special cocktail menu, which will feature throughout the bars at sketch during Sketch in Bloom.
Music & Staff Uniforms
sketch’s music Director, Mathieu Massadian, has curated an array of playlists to accompany each of the installations. Sonia Taouhid, sketch’s dress designer, will create new seasonal staff uniforms, which will boast fresh floral patterns, taking cue from the manifold surrounding blossoms.
