DREAM BEDROOM
Designer Lucy Barlow shares her tips for a fresh scheme
1. This is The main bedroom of the notting hill apartment of a young couple who share a joie de vivre and a passion for colour. The property was in quite bad shape when they bought it, so much of the budget was spent on getting the structure right; this meant we had to be quite economical when it came to furnishing the spaces, working out where to spend and where best to save.
2. The colour palette is influenced by the striking round canvases, which the owner bought from a street artist in Brazil. Her favourite colour combination is pink and green. The pink walls create a sense of calm. Rather than team them with a soft green, which might have given a country feel, I suggested a punchier emerald hue.
3. The wallcovering we used transforms the space. it is a vinyl that resembles linen; admittedly, it is much more expensive than paint but it makes the room feel luxurious and inviting. it’s also washable, and this option is easier to apply and more economical than battening linen to the walls.
4. My client had fallen in love with a superb fern print but, with two large windows, the cost of making curtains in it would have been astronomical. Instead, we used the fabric on the leading edge of plain linen curtains. We made the remnants into cushions to bring a touch of pattern to the bed. They are backed in plain velvet, so can be flipped for a different look.
5. mirrors are ideal on the wall beside the bed as they reflect the table lamps and add a sense of depth. These vintage finds have bamboo frames: i always like to include wood textures in a scheme and the bamboo marries nicely with the rattan chest. The lamps and patterned tables were relatively affordable pieces that add to the young, fun feel of the scheme.