FAMILY ROOM
Clever use of colour and pattern unite this seating area with the adjacent room
A walk-through seating area provided a decorating challenge.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROJECT?
This is a five-bedroom Tudor-inspired property in Hertfordshire that we altered considerably to create a characterful home. One of the major changes was a large kitchen extension with an adjoining everyday living room, pictured here, connecting the kitchen to the dining room. The client originally wanted to have a seating area in the kitchen, but we felt this would compromise the proportions of the island and dining table. As a result, this family space was born, with pocket doors at either end keeping the space flexible so that it can be shut off or used as part of the kitchen.
DID THIS ROOM PRESENT ANY CHALLENGES?
Because this is essentially a walk-through space, the main challenge was to make a comfortable room, complete with a sofa, armchair and ottoman, that still allowed a clear walkway to the adjoining areas. Using bespoke upholstered designs meant that we were able to play with proportions to make the room feel spatially comfortable.
WERE YOU INFLUENCED BY ANY SPECIFIC STYLES?
Our client loves a mix of styles – from Gothic to Art Deco, Tuscan to English country – and didn’t want to be a slave to one period, instead requesting a variety of influences to create a very personal aesthetic. This room needed to tie in with some of the Gothic references in the adjoining rooms; for example, the quatrefoil floor lamp picks up on the motifs on the kitchen units.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE WHEN CHOOSING A PATTERNED FABRIC FOR A SOFA?
Go for it! If choosing a large-scale pattern, it’s good to use a smaller scale print or pattern for cushions, ottomans or other furniture. The interplay of proportion and scale are key when it comes to using pattern successfully; the designs need to complement not outdo each other.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE LIGHTING?
Like the walls, the ceiling features a slightly rough plaster effect and we didn’t want to break the beauty of that with spot lights. Instead, decorative lighting such as pendants and floor lamps have been used to light up key areas, rather than the whole room. The result is an atmospheric ambience that suits the flexibility of the space.