Any ideas on what to do with my drawing room please?

7 years ago

Hi,

Is there any ideas on what to do with my drawing room please? The house is 1850s and has not been touched since the 1970s. It is an awful shade of bright pink... everywhere, including the ceiling! It has some lovely original features such as ornate cornicing and original shutters and sash windows and an original bay with french doors and shutters.

I would be grateful for any ideas as I have no clue how to do it justice and I'm a bit intimidated by the task to be honest.

Help please!! x lottie

Featured Answer

PRO

The Classic Barn Company

7 years ago

Hi
It's actually a really nice space, restore all those lovely traditional features, draw the focal point towards those nice Windows, timber floor, brass chandler and restore radiator and add brass valves and when you decorate, keep a hint of pink somewhere just to connect with its past - good luck !

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Comments (10)

PRO
Interior View Design
7 years ago
I think that possible decorative plaster beading on wall to create panelling [see images] this is of a house I did many years ago but I think relevant to yours , I am not sure how clearly the finished photo will look on here but the unfinished bare plasterwork wall will give a good idea as to what I am saying. Also definitely change the chandelier please. Decorative radiator covers might be a good idea too [see second image]

If you would like more information or a design done please contact myself , the strap-work ceiling in third photo was designed by me an is unique.
lottiefenwick thanked Interior View Design
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I think curtains similar to the previous owner would work if you keep the colour or background colour close to the wall colour. It's hard to find pictures of a bay with a lowered ceiling without shutters etc but you could also have a pelmet and curtains on the main wall outside the bay or have curtains on the main wall maybe with romans on the window. If you take the curtains higher than the bay ceiling it will make the windows appear visually taller. There are lots of rooms with the coffee table much further away however as you actually want to use the tables for tea etc you may want to keep the 45cm gap but have wider coffee tables. My table is 44cm away (to be precise!) and I couldn't reach much past that comfortably TBH. I would try it! I've just attached 2 pics showing the sofas overlapping the chimney breast and not to see what you think. The chairs in the bay will be fine if the main seating area is zoned with a rug. I've seen your other posts re David Linley, his silhouette chair is rather lovely!
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PRO
Hutsly
7 years ago
What a great room! Those French doors with a view of the garden should definitely be the focal point, they are truly stunning and they are framing perfectly the garden which will look great when it's done!

What I would start doing is to remove the carpet, you might already have some original wood floors under there but if not I think it could be worth investing in that. The heater is also bugging me... Maybe you could replace it or hide it behind a wooden case with similar paneling to the doors.

Then I would remove the two low cupboards which make that side look a bit heavy and I suspect are not practical anyway.

For the colours I would get rid of the wallpaper, repaint everything white including the ceiling and then you can start adding really subtle colours. For example I would perhaps paint the lower part of the walls (where your wallpaper is now) in a very light grey which will give a modern touch whilst not denaturing the heritage of the room. I really like the darker colour that is on some edges of the paneling of the doors and at the border with the ceiling so I would maybe choose a different colour but keep that concept which really draws attention to the original features. I would personally not add any new ones as suggested above as your room doesn't need it, it already has lots of character,

Then for the layout you could, to accentuate the French doors as focal point, place two identical sofas facing each other with the space between them leading to the Frencg doors if you see what I mean. Then the rest is just accessorizing: a nice rug, some side tables and maybe a bigger pedestal-type table in front of the French doors with a big flower bouquet on top. You could choose as an accent colour (for accessories like cushions) something similar to the darker colour you chose to highlight the original features, this will tie it all in.

Hope that helps and sorry for the long message, your room is very inspiring!

Hutsly
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Victoria
7 years ago
I'd reinstate the fireplace on that chimney breast and leave the cupboards. Moving or hiding the radiator is the single most important thing.
lottiefenwick thanked Victoria
PRO
User
7 years ago
Bues and greens work really well in big drawing rooms ( what a lovely room by the way ). If it were me, i'd look to see if i could re-instate the fireplace which has been covered. If you don't fancy that, I'd have the ceiling and alcoves, plus some new shelving for books in a shade of white. Remove and replace the radiator for something more antique looking and smaller with a good output.
lottiefenwick thanked User
Juliet Docherty
7 years ago
First off all rip that carpet out and see what is beneath it - you may find a lovely old floor that can be sanded down. Look on some salvage sites to find a beautiful cast iron (or replica) radiator that would be more in keeping. If it were my room I would keep and restore all of the gorgeous period features but use a very simple colour palette. Good luck.
lottiefenwick thanked Juliet Docherty
PRO
Amber Jeavons Ltd
7 years ago
Hello Lottie,

What an amazing house! Also yes.. Colourhappy and Hutsly are right.. you may find some equally beautiful flooring, possibly parquet and as this is integral to any interior.. Look at this straight away.... Then... The fireplace needs to be opened up... remove the two little cupboards..

Back to the fireplace... It may be that when you tap the plaster board you'll hear it's hollow.. you carefully cut an opening so you can see what you're dealing with in terms of size and or any original features.. I have opened several fireplaces and you may need to replace the lintel and re-instate if there is not a lot left behind.. It's rather sad when you find the original marble hacked to bits and thrown into the recess..

You don't need to go all period.. you can actually create fabulous interiors within period buildings that are vibrant, modern but retain the feel of the home and features... I find the most beautiful homes are not all filled with furnishings of the period but have been cleverly mixed to produce something unexpected, beautiful but altogether more exciting...

Look at all the wood work and walls when considering painting or wall coverings.. I could think of a million ways.... You have a remarkable place already... even in it's pink state! Also one thing to note... Do include the ceilings... Some of the most spectacular interiors have not opted for a white ceiling... : ))
lottiefenwick thanked Amber Jeavons Ltd
PRO
FineArtSeen
7 years ago
What an exciting project. Some great ideas here and I look forward to seeing the finished room.

Once your refurb is complete, if you would like any help finding art for your walls, just let me know.

Good luck!
Summer
lottiefenwick thanked FineArtSeen
lottiefenwick
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you for all your kind comments and great advice. I really appreciate it!

We had a look at the fireplace and it has been removed completely which is gutting, but we will buy reclaimed and reinstate it. There is also an ugly 1960s fireplace opposite the bay at the other side of the room too.

The flooring underneath the carpet is just pitch pine wide plank floorboards which turn orange when I try to wax or varnish so I suspect we will have to carpet. I'm putting parquet in the kitchen but don't have the budget for here too!

Can I ask whether you think it would be wrong to remove the picture rail? It is poor quality and seems to be a later addition and doesn't match the architraves. I keep seeing lovely pictures on Houzz of drawing rooms with dado rails and plaster beadings (Interior View I will keep you in mind, thank you).

It seems this room is a bit much for a novice. Hutsley you are right I need to paint it white first so I can start with a blank canvas. A J Interiors, thank you great advice. but you have completely thrown me with the ceilings comment. The crazy pink ,although awful, has a lovely way of making the cornice stand out!

x Lottie
PRO
Amber Jeavons Ltd
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hello Lottie,

I'm merely saying (suggesting) that when you come to paint the ceiling consider a colour that compliments the walls as is currently seen in your images.. Ceilings don't need to be white as yours isn't and that's the point I'm making, as I rather like a painted ceiling. A lot of people have white, so it's rather nice to include the ceiling when considering colour - also it doesn't have to be just paint.. There are also some fabulous papered ceilings.. With regards to the picture rail, I'd leave it in.. :))
lottiefenwick thanked Amber Jeavons Ltd