Beautiful Georgian apartament - what should we do?
Yet we are moving again. This time into a beautiful 1800s Georgian townhouse which actually is a Grade I listed building.
I am absolutely over the moon with the apartment - it has so much character and comes with stunning views!
In a way, it is a Georgian apartment which could be tricky to arrange, however it is also a blank canvas. It comes unfurnished. And this is where my dilemma starts.
We need to purchase everything! (Well - almost. We have a mattress, an IKEA chest of drawers and a white IKEA bookcase...). Since it’s a rental I don’t want to spend too much money so we will be probably relying on fairly cheap shops, 2nd hand furniture and IKEA...
Storage is a problem as we accumulated a lot of items over our 5 years of living together and the apartment only comes with 2 shallow wardrobes with a hanging space only... there’s not even a storage/cupboard.
Hence, we thought ottoman storage bed and a storage sofa bed for guests could be handy.
With the rest of furniture, style and arrangements, I would love to welcome your invaluable comments and ideas.
Ps. Something we would really like to accommodate is our projector that would be probably placed on some sort of a coffee table to project above the fire place. Unfortunately, we can’t mount anything permanently onto walls or ceilings...
Photos and floor plan attached :) apologies for odd black marks - my phone is clearly playing up!
Comments (26)
Jonathan
5 years agoI think I would be looking for auction site bargains, older larger pieces that you can paint in the same colour to unify the look. Given that the flat is decorated very neutrally I would paint the furniture in s confident colour but frankly any colour would work.
The enclosed images are supposed to represent a before and after
Aga Kartasinska
5 years agoRelated Discussions
What should we do!!! Design Virgin
Comments (2)Hi, as I usually say, a colour palette depends on many factors. Flooring, textile (curtains and seatings), and what kind of ambience you want to achieve are some of them. Do you like soft and calm spaces or are you looking for something bold/creative? Norikei www.norikei.com...See MoreWhat colour should we paint the walls?
Comments (11)The colour you paint the walls very much depends on the behaviours you wish to see coming from the space. How you want it to feel. Who you are as a person. Once that is determined you can then ensure it harmonises and tones well with other spaces coming off your hallway. You could pick any colour you like (there's no such thing as a bad colour) but to make it really work for you and for the long term (which is key - hallways are a pain to decorate and you don't want to have to change it in a months time because you don't like it!). It is important to make sure that if, for example you chose red, is the red going to make you feel the way you wAnt it to? Have you chosen the right red? What is the undertone of the red? Is it yellow based or blue based? Each will give a very different feel. I work as a colour consultant specialising in applied colour psychology. If you want any further help please just ask....See MoreGeorgian office has become uninspiring dumping ground
Comments (22)Hi Karis, It would be good to see a plan of the room as the photos can distort perspective a little. I agree with you, the room does look a little off kilter. It's too heavy to the right of the fireplace -to balance it out you need something to the left (of the fireplace).- reflecting the height and width of the bookcase. One way you could achieve this is by using paintings or some kind of wall art above and slightly behind a chair. (small relaxing arm/reading chair would be ideal. A floor light in this corner even, if its only a plug in floor spot light will make a difference. Option A will also feel a little more balanced, but also a very tiny bit like the reception of some private practice. If the desk isn't too big, can you try turning the desk slightly diagonally into the room? Alternatively, position the desk where you had it originally and create a picture wall full of all the photos you love behind it (on the door wall). You will also need either a desk light either positioned on the desk or on the wall to give you the lighting you need, making your desk a pleasant place to work at. Hope this helps, please keep us posted. Annika...See MoreOpinions please on what we should do now.
Comments (16)Oh me too Kate, I was maybe particularly drawn to it as I'm 9 months pregnant and v looking forward to my first drink! Enjoy creating in your new bit of space! Love that room btw! X...See MoreJonathan
5 years agokikiamack
5 years agoAga Kartasinska
5 years agoA B
5 years agoAga Kartasinska
5 years agoAga Kartasinska
5 years ago
PROOnePlan
5 years agoAga Kartasinska
5 years agominnie101
5 years agoAga Kartasinska
5 years agoHi minnie101,
Thank you for the comment. A very valid point about photos. I’ve attached them now.
I think storage is key as we have a lot of stuff (moving from 2 bed to 1 bed...) and there’s no storage as such in the apartment.
The ottoman is rather small, more of a footstool, so I think a coffee table could be useful. The thing is we have a projector that we can’t mount on the ceiling so it would either need to go on a lower shelf of the coffee table or an additional side table next to the sofa...
With regards to the bedroom furniture - they are white. Bedroom already had built in white/off-white wardrobes but they are fairly small. The bedside tables - we’re discussing ;) I think a table for a lamp would be sufficient but my partner is adamant he will need storage...
Sonia
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoAga Kartasinska
5 years agominnie101
5 years agore bedroom, I would go for a round bedside table/s, this is by woodluv on AmazoN. The duvet set is by John Lewis and picks out the grey/blue walls, I'd drape a Pom Pom throw or something over the end of bed (as shown!) just to soften the bed. i found some throws by wilko although not sure how many Pom poms they have! i might consider an Ikea clothes rack (but I wouldn't overcrowd it) on that back wall by the door leaving some space in the wardrobe for Hoover and ironing board. If you did that you would need to protect the clothes from fading. Blinds 2 go do a double blind (6th pic in various colours), sheer bottom to block rays with a blackout on top Although you could layer a sheer roller with a roman blind too. If you didn't want a clothes rack as an alternative you could screen off the corner to the right of the window for Hoover etc. If not, I'd use that corner for a laundry basket, try a blondeish rattan to layer the cream wardrobes and the white furniture, with a belly basket for a tall plant and a second hand chair to add a bit of texture. I'm not sure where you are but I found a bentwood chair for example on eBay for £16. Try Desenio (last photo) for some scandi art prints and I'd add a few plants, Ikea actually seem to do quite a few
minnie101
5 years agoRe the living room , is it dining chairs or an armchair you're after Or both? Do you already have a billy bookcase? Is this the footstool?
Aga Kartasinska
5 years ago@minie101 - the comment about bedroom is absolutely lovely! Thank you so much for a great inspiration and advice! ❤️
We were thinking about an armchair but now I’m not sure there will be space. We may swap the armchair for a cabinet/sideboard as we had nowhere to keep our massive collection of wine glasses etc. Unless we could fit a narrow sideboard and an armchair in 166 cm space to the side of the fireplace?...
I can’t find the exact photo of the footstool but it looks more or less like the one on the attached photo. It’s mustard yellow.
minnie101
5 years agoThe room is large so you should have room for a chair plus it's impossible to socialise all sat in a straight line! I think I'd go for something antique for the sideboard. I was looking at mid century ones and most are pretty large. I came across this cocktail cabinet which I think is really nice and a steal? I'd put a light chair in front of the cabinet (for easy access) angled towards the sofa , an Acapulco chair would work and you can pick them up really cheaply, this one is from superstudio. I'd probably use an ivory sheepskin on it though which is beyond my poor photoshopping skills, dunelm do one. I'd probably go for a shade of blue for the chairs, this one is cult furniture but unsure of your budget so have included another link. Eames chairs would also work. I'd go for a beni ourain rug, I've used any old one to photoshop in but there are loads around. if you wanted to splurge there are genuine ones on eBay etc (they should be an investment plus they would with a lot of styles for the future) or try places like Benuta or Very for a replica.
i forgot to ask if the curtains were staying? I'd repeat the brass for a floor lamp and I'd have a look in antique shops, eBay etc for some mid century ceramics just to personalise it and add a bit more character although the room is Lovely!
Aga Kartasinska
5 years agoAga Kartasinska
5 years agoHere’s some progress on where (apologies for the mess - middle of unpacking!) we are and a few questions.
Not sure what to do with the other side of the fireplace. The fireplace is massive and a big feature - don’t really want it to look out of place but also don’t want “period” interior.
I’m wondering would it be a good idea to move the bookcase to the empty side (either to the far corner or in the middle), put a big plant next to it (e.g. a potted plant) and the Acapulco chair (in front).
Now to the other side (where currently the bookcase stands) - a drinks trolley and maybe some sort of drinks cabinet/vintage sideboard and a large painting above?
The other option would be to leave the bookcase where it is and put a tall display cabinet on the other side of the fireplace to add symmetry, but I’m wondering would it not be just too “boring”...?
Any thoughts greatly appreciated! :)
Ps. Still haven’t decided on chairs... some options below, but looking at it again the walls now seem to me a shade of green rather than blue
Aga Kartasinska
5 years agoUpdate with chairs.
Anyone has any ideas with regards to my previous post? :)
E D
5 years ago
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