Interiors

The designer’s room

A bedroom sanctuary in Chelsea and the best of colonial chic

Sophie Paterson has combined Eastern-inspired furniture and leather upholstery to create a soothing sanctuary in the heart of Chelsea

At an early age, Sophie Paterson gained a deep understanding of houses, thanks to a peripatetic upbringing in a succession of homes (her family notched up 12 in eight years). After a degree in Spanish and business studies, a chance meeting with a developer kickstarted a career in interior design.

A recent example of her work is this master bedroom of a town house in Chelsea. ‘the project was unusual in that the client was very involved,’ explains Sophie. ‘the brief was for a look that wasn’t too “designed” and she wanted me to work with a few key pieces, including the four-poster Ralph Lauren bed that had been kept in storage for several years until it found the right home.’

Sophie used the large antique Persian rug as the starting point for both the style and colour of the scheme, which she built with layers of warm, neutral shades. Another key piece was the armchair in a rich, honey-coloured leather by the Italian brand Poltrona Frau (020–7589 3846; http://poltronafrau.com). the colour choice was ahead of the curve. ‘Now it’s become the colour that everyone’s talking about,’ she says, refering to the fact that Dulux has recently crowned the warm, ambery hue as the colour of 2019.

the lacquered finish on the bed is echoed in the high-gloss dressing table and stool by Graham & Green (01225 418200; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk). the bedside tables were designed to be tall enough for the bed, but also small enough to fit the space, and were made by Justin van Breda (020–7078 7996; www.justinvanbreda.com). Arabella Youens Sophie Paterson Interiors (01372 462529; www.sophiepatersoninteriors.com)