Brief
My clients had recently relocated to Highcliffe and moved into a new build that lacked the house feeling like home. They had numerous items of furniture and artwork they had bought with them but needed to add extra elements to help with storage and aesthetics. They particularly wanted to add colour without it becoming overbearing. The core of the building had already been installed, including flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, office furniture etc. Neutrally painted walls were to be retained for the moment. Although the house was contemporary with clean lines they wanted the house to feel more personable.
Inspiration and Design
Having discussed likes and dislikes with colour and shapes we opted for a mix of geometric alongside modern organic to soften lines. Half the household liked strong, bold colours and the other half relatively neutral so I was looking for elements that would please both parties.
The kitchen was high gloss so it seemed sensible to replicate this in other free standing items for storage, whilst also adding in other textured elements so the gloss didn’t become too over powering. Gilmore Space had a perfect high sideboard that would easily fit their china, alongside a round coffee table from Homary that had storage but also included others elements like a hinged table to use computer on etc. The round table also helped to break down the hard lines that were currently in situ. The clients had an existing floor standing lamp with various colour used in the glass shades. I wanted to incorporate these into new artwork purchased and Trowbridge galleries were perfect with their Bouquet of Colour range of 9 pictures by Charlotte Morgan which could be framed to personal choice. These worked perfectly to fill the space, add colour, pattern and dimension to the walls.
Window Treatments were important but they didn’t want curtains to invade the windows or doors apart from within the snug lounge where it was to feel cosier. The day room involved many windows and doors and my Decorquip Double Roller Blinds went down a hit as these could also be remotely operated. Each window panel on the bi-fold doors had a blind installed that could be operated individually or as an entire row or room on one simple remote control to operate all areas. The headrails fitted nicely into the recess and were discreetly hidden behind metal pelmets. These blinds can be operated similarly to a roller blind so up, down or set half way. At the same time they use a double roll of fabric that has both voile and solid elements to it so can be used as a privacy layer allowing light through or closed for full privacy.
I desperately wanted to get some fabrics into the other rooms so Roman blinds seemed to be the perfect solution for most other windows around the house so that we could allow as much light in as possible but add softness. The snug lounge needed a window treatment that was more warming and enclosing so this room would feel snug when needed. We used a modern silver pole to replicate door handles etc and hung made-to-measure pencil tape curtains. Pencil curtains are often seen as messy but when dressed properly they can be elegant and a cost effective option in quantity of fabric and labour needed. The Prestigious fabric was perfect with a neutral base but a geometric pattern that pulled in the colours of orange, brown & yellow that was in their existing artwork.
Clients were keen to address an old family Lloyd loom chair that was looking a little sad. They loved the thought of using a Union Jack. After a splash of paint the chair was re-upholstered and added a little joy to the hall.
