Marrying Ancient and Modern to Create the Perfect Bedroom

Yorkshire Post - 30th December 2009 - Life & Style Section : Homes



Interiors

ONE of our latest projects was for a client who had purchased a period home. They loved the dimensions of the master bedroom, but wanted a scheme both sympathetic to the architecture and reflecting their enjoyment of contemporary design.

Before we got to work

The trick in ensuring a modern design works well in a period environment is to play to the strengths of the building. In a property with high ceilings and large room dimensions go bold – big patterns and large, dramatic pieces with a slightly distressed appearance, rather than shiny finishes are the key to creating a look that does not feel over-engineered.

In a large room people often play safe keeping walls neutral, however that can lead to a vast bland look, emphasising the space, but not using it to best advantage. Period homes cry out for the use of wallpaper which softens and enriches the feel of the rooms.

We started by replacing beige paint with a feature wall of Villiers Blue wallpaper from the Zoffany Nureyev Collection (about £49 per roll). The tremendous combination of deep blue and gold with an antique faded look enhances the richness of the room and feels like it has always been there.

The rest of the walls were finished in contrasting Ham House Plain (from Zoffany's National Trust Collection, about £46 per roll). This paper has a slight sheen, softening the overall feel of the room. The woodwork was finished in Architect's White Eggshell and the ceiling was painted in Polar Bear emulsion (both from the Zoffany paint range). The fireplace was taken back to its original black to emphasis it as a feature.

The blue tones of the walls were reflected in the glass of the existing over mantle mirror and an antique chandelier was dressed in reclaimed aqua blue crystal droppers to add a dramatic feature light.

Luscious purple and light blue/green was introduced in the warm chenille used for part of the bedspread and the valance (the Prestigious Splendid range, about £23.50 per metre). Additional texture was introduced in the Astrakhan-inspired main fabric of the bed cover and cushions (Blomfield Opal by Andrew Martin, about £107 per metre).

Using an expensive accent fabric in a panel and combining it with a cheaper fabric for volume is a great interior design trick that allows you to get maximum visual impact without breaking the bank – it works well on bedspreads, curtains and cushions.

Thick velvet carpet in Rich Brown (Westend Prestige Velvet from Westex, about £54 per square metre) added warmth and comfort underfoot, as well as hiding some very average-looking stripped floorboards and quelling drafts and dust.


The addition of a bespoke oversized headboard covered in shimmering Teal Arkona Velvet Teal from Harlequin (about £39 per meter) brought the look right on trend.

The Temple Eglomise mirrored beside tables from Julian Chichester (£905) helped to take advantage of the large windows to bounce light into the room, without creating too many reflections. These were complemented by a pair of Burnt Gold Lerat Leaf Lamps with Prune Silk Shades (both from Porta Romana, about £770 each). A large Anna Cabinet in Dark Wood and Mirror from Julian Chichester (£2,675) added storage and impact.

Attention to detail is the key to period design and we completed the look by replacing white wall switches with retro-style toggle switches in brushed brass (about £19).

The end result was a room that the client said gave them joy to wake up in and made them want to stay in bed all day. The perfect response and an antidote to a chilly British winter.

Jamie Hempsall is a BIDA member and one of the region's leading interior designers. See more of his work at www.jamiehempsall. com or contact him on 01777 248463