DINING ROOM
Taking its colour palette from foliage in soft greens, this light scheme blends with the terrace beyond
Foliage in soft greens informed the colour palette of this light-filled open-plan space.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PROJECT?
This is the open-plan living space of a garden flat in a modern mansion block in south London; the building was designed to tie in sympathetically with two Art Deco blocks next to it. The room, which also includes a kitchen area, is essentially a long rectangle featuring a wall of glazed doors that open onto a beautifully planted terrace.
WHAT INSPIRED THE COLOUR PALETTE?
When we first met the clients, they showed us an image of pots filled with wild flowers and we used this as our cue for an informal scheme that layers different shades of green. The palette includes a eucalyptus hue that we absolutely love – it looks grey rather than green in certain lights and, as such, is more a neutral than a true colour, making it very versatile.
HOW DID YOU ZONE THE DIFFERENT AREAS?
A pendant light is incredibly useful for visually breaking up a large space. We only ever include one in a room and here we chose a substantial glazed light to hang above the dining table; it is fitted with squirrel bulbs for a slightly industrial feel. We also like to use rugs to create “walls” within an open-plan scheme and try to specify designs that are big enough to have all the furniture sitting on them. This one is made from plaited jute, which adds lots of texture and offers an informal foil to the smarter pieces.
WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCED THE CHOICE OF FURNITURE?
We love oversized pieces and the stretched chesterfield was the first item of furniture we chose for the room. Its buttoning gives it a traditional look that we have balanced with more modern pieces, including a pair of mid-century inspired armchairs. The simplicity of the refectory style table gives the dining area a laid-back feel; it’s been teamed with comfortable leather chairs that have a utilitarian edge.
HOW DID YOU CREATE THE WALL OF STORAGE?
Fitted joinery can be a brilliant focal point, particularly if a room is lacking architectural details. We built the wall out, then made three large niches for books, lights and objects. By creating the effect of recessed bookcases, it feels less like a wall of storage and more like a decorative feature, and it also deflects attention from the television.
WHAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND THE CURTAIN TREATMENT?
We were involved in the project before the build was complete, so specified a ceiling trough for the curtains to sit in, with a hidden track. We chose linen because it hangs heavily and creates quite a tailored effect, yet its slightly rough texture ensures it isn’t too smart. It is this careful balance of formal and informal details that really makes the space.
We used an image of wild flowers as inspiration for an informal scheme that layers different shades of green.”