DREAM BEDROOM
A playful yet practical scheme for twin boys
1. We wanted the room to be as flexible as possible. As a mother to young children myself, I know how important it is to include space for sleeping, storage and play. Here, there is a generous area in the centre of the room for the boys to play, with custom-made back-to-back cabin beds. The design of the beds is inspired by a ship’s sleeping quarters, complete with a porthole between the two. It’s fun – and practical, because the bulkhead above conceals the ugly air-conditioning units and there are drawers below.
2. to GOOD a room STORAGE as an afterthought, is essential. and off-the-shelf Often it is added racking and boxes don’t always work particularly well. If the budget permits, bespoke joinery tends to make the best solution. Here, we designed classic framed cupboards and drawers, painted in a period shade of blue, and finished them with interesting Perspex handles with antique brass knuckles. A mix of wardrobe hanging space, pull-out drawers and open shelves at different heights provide a variety of options.
3. The eye-catching feature of the room is the hand-painted mural, commissioned for the boys. One is mad about cars, the other about animals, so their characters are reflected in the painting. Their nicknames are painted onto the portholes (overleaf), as another personal touch.
4. FLOORS ARE IMPORTANT, in the same way that beautiful shoes can make an outfit. Here, we used a textured carpet, which looks like a flatweave wool, yet is made from robust, water-resistant polypropylene, making it a practical choice in a children’s bedroom. →
5. The organic design and plaster finish drew us to the striking Urchin chandelier, which gives a sense of movement to the room. We chose wall lights for the cabin beds as there are no bedside tables.
6. WE WERE CAREFUL not to go too wide with the colour palette, instead keeping it to a combination of blue, orange and green. Rather than nursery-style fabrics, we’ve opted for geometric patterns for the blinds, cushions and window seat, finished with contrast piping. The designs are quite adult in style, but the way we’ve layered them up is colourful and bright. As the boys grow, it would be straightforward to paint over the mural and replace the cabin beds with two singles, or to change the space into a guest room. The room is designed to be adaptable – and to stand the test of time.
Deborah Bass founded her own practice, Base Interior, 10 years ago. Known for its creative approach and complete service, it often works with clients prior to purchase of a property to advise on its potential, through to extensive refurbishment, to the final delivery of a fully-dressed home.
■■ Base Interior, 020 7486 5690, baseinterior.com