3 Coffee Table Styling Tricks to Steal From a London It Girl

Zara Home visits Alex Eagle’s always-evolving apartment.
Alex-eagle-living-room-books-table

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Not many people can boast that they’re known for a specific piece of decor in their home, but Alex Eagle’s coffee table is a bona fide Internet celebrity. The Axel Vervoordt–designed surface is piled high with all manner of books and decorative accents, instantly stealing the show in the designer’s living room. (We would know; we toured Eagle’s space back in 2017.) It’s no surprise, then, that when her 4,300-square-foot London loft was recently featured in a Zara Home editorial, it was the first thing we spotted.

The editorial in question, “At Home With Alex Eagle,” gives us a fresh look at Eagle’s sunny, ever-changing space. We wouldn’t expect anything less than carefully considered perfection—seriously, every corner is snapshot-worthy—from the person behind London’s coolest concept shop, and she delivered yet again: Crisp linen textiles (“Synthetic fabrics—I loathe them!”), an enviable art collection (“My theory is: If you love it, it all works together, so I don’t overthink it”), and unifying pops of blue and green (“They match well in any shade”) are scattered throughout. But let’s turn our attention back to the coffee table, because although she’s changed it up since we last saw it, it’s still every bookworm’s dream

Alex-eagle-living-room-books-table
Courtesy of Zara Home

Her latest vignette starts with the table itself, of course—it’s wide, low profile offers ample space for adding whatever your heart desires on top. Eagle clearly has a thing for hardcovers because almost every square inch is covered by a different title, from books on photography from the likes of Peter Lindbergh to design bibles. 

Next, she peppered in a few sculptural objects. One of her current favorite trends is organic, unusual silhouettes, which she relayed with totem-shaped candles and irregular wooden bowls. (Psst: All of hers are from Zara Home, and they’re under $40.) 

As for the pièce de résistance, the floral arrangement, she always recommends incorporating a living accent. Her go-to flowers are hydrangeas, bunched together in shades of blue and purple. Not only do they bring some literal freshness to the place, but they also add height to the whole table, balancing everything out. Not everyone can get their hands on an Axel Vervoordt original, but a bunch of blooms from the local bodega? That we can handle. 

Get the look:

Totem Candle

Zara Home
$26.0

Peter Lindbergh Photography Book

Zara Home
$119.0

Decorative Wooden Bowl

Zara Home
$40.0

Textured Vase

Zara Home
$40.0

See more international style tips: The Small-Space Tip That Parisian It Girl Sabina Socol Swears By  London It Girl Matilda Goad Reveals How to Decorate Like a Brit This Is How You Set the Table Like an Italian

Elly Leavitt

Writer and Editor

Elly enjoys covering anything from travel to funky design (tubular furniture, anyone?) to the latest cultural trend. Her dream apartment would exist on the Upper West Side and include a plethora of mismatched antique chairs, ceramic vessels, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases—essential to her goal of becoming a poor man’s Nora Ephron. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.