Design Brief
This property dates back to 1899, and it was important to the owners that we restore the rooms back to their former glory. This large family home benefits from a separate formal dining room that is entered through a smaller snug. The clients were keen to incorporate a bar and drinks storage along with a sofa in the Snug, which works wonderfully as a pre-dinner drinks area or quiet reading corner when they are not entertaining.
The client was keen to go bold in their interior design choices, so this William Morris Seasons by May wallpaper, inspired by a set of embroidered panels depicting the seasons in stitch-work designed by May Morris c.1895-1900, seemed like the perfect choice. The rest of the furnishings were chosen to compliment the bold statement wallpaper.
This project also involved giving the existing dining furniture a new lease of life; the oak wasn’t going to work with this scheme! A local French polisher stripped back the dining table, side board and chairs and re-stained them in a darker shade. Meanwhile one of my upholsterers recovered the leather seat pads in velvet to tie in with the plush look and feel of the room.
Bespoke hand-made roman blinds, carpet and lighting were installed and the client’s heirloom pictures finish off the rooms perfectly.
Victorian Sitting Room
The design inspiration and colour scheme for this room is taken from the original fireplace tiles and one of the client’s pieces of artwork.
Sanderson Hemp wallpaper is the perfect complement to the Sandersons Madagascar fabric that was selected for the interlined roman blinds and cushions. The history behind this fabric makes it a wonderful choice for this period property; William Turner, one of the most eminent designers of the 20th Century, first created the design as wallpaper in 1910. It was later manufactured as a printed fabric from the 1920s. This latest version has been engraved directly from the original fabric to retain the distinctive textures and effects.
The customer’s existing sofas, footstool and armchair were stripped down, new cushion pads added and re-upholstered in rich textured velvets and chenille to add warmth and a bold colour statement. Storage was built either side of the fireplace and painted in a Little Greene Olive Colour.
New carpet, lighting and a framed antique cross stitch finish off the sitting room in this Victorian family home.
Kind words
“Thank you for allowing me to be brave. You were so easy to work with and I trusted you completely with our home. I’m loving the room we have created together and am so glad I took the plunge to get some help.”
