French style
Soft colours with teal accents, floral patterns and a variety of textures combine with painted antique furniture to create a charming bedroom.
Pale shades transform a dark bedroom into a tranquil oasis
Angela Laffan, owner of Cocoon Home Styling, and her husband Paul, both 47, live with their children, Lucia, 14, and Marcus, 10, in a four-bedroom house in Hampton, Middlesex. The 300-year-old building was once a post office and connecting house
You refurbished the house when you first moved in…
Yes, we had damp courses put in and some re-wiring done.
The bathrooms were changed and walls and floorboards painted throughout so the house was much more to our taste.
The bedroom needed some changes too
It was a great size with lots of potential. However there were two unsightly elements that had to go. The first was the shower and basin in the corner, and the second was the oppressive wooden wardrobes around the bed. Taking these out was a vast improvement.
What did you do next?
We commissioned a friend to build new wardrobes in the alcoves either side of the fireplace. They are full-height with moulding details on the doors so are sympathetic in style to the period of the house. As the floors are very old and drop towards the middle of the room, the walls rather than the floor support the structure. The floorboards are original and wide, and though lovely were in bad condition with old woodworm holes. We refreshed their appearance by painting them a soft creamy white and chose a very light grey/beige for the walls, which has created a beautifully tranquil backdrop for the calm, restful room I wanted.
Tell us about the furnishings
The window seat was previously in the lounge but I felt it worked well under the bedroom window, and it became the inspiration for the blue and brown accents in the neutral scheme. An antique French bed is the focal point of the room dressed with an eyecatching teal floral quilt and cushions. We placed metal tray tables either side to give a modern contrast. Another antique piece is the dressing table, which fits neatly beside the window.
How did you link the colours?
New tiles on the fireplace hearth echo the blue in the bedlinen, and we decided to hang up a couple of paintings by our daughter Lucia that feature blue. Above the radiator cover is a large brown-framed mirror that balances the tawny shades of the window seat, and the rug adds similar soft shades to the scheme.
Are you happy with the space now?
Very! Previously this was an oppressive room with the wardrobes built up and over the bed and the dark colours didn’t help the mood. It now feels calm, clean and restful.