France's living room
4. Coffee table or side tables? For some homeowners, the coffee table is non-negotiable, for others it’s a nuisance. What’s true for most, though, is the need for some kind of surface near the sofa for a drink, book or bowl of popcorn. Here’s an idea for those who prefer a central station, but are worried it will make the room look cluttered. “We replaced a big ottoman in the middle of the room with a glass and brass coffee table,” Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors says. “It feels lighter in the small space.”
If you’d like your TV out of sight when you’re not using it, consider having a cabinet made to conceal it. In this traditional cottage, designer Jo Shore has kept the modern electrical equipment concealed behind a bespoke cupboard and shelving unit. The screen, cables and other additions are positioned inside the central cabinet. It can be opened when the owners want to watch a programme or film, and easily shut behind closed doors at other times.
They add a feature Claudia recommends bringing in a focal point. “That way, the living room’s smaller proportions won’t dominate and you’ll give the room its own identity,” she says. “Try a large piece of art or a fabulous chandelier to create a sense of indulgence.” “Add a built-in eccentricity that will give a personal touch to a small space,” Sean suggests. “It could be an oriel window where you can curl up and read a book, or a built-in seating space that ends up being used as a table by the little ones. “By taking a leap and introducing something bespoke and unexpected, you’ll bring up surprises,” he adds. “Each user will find a different purpose for it, making the room more personal and dynamic.”
They let in light… Simplicity is key when designing a small living space. “Use neutral colours and have simple walls, steering away from any superfluous architectural details,” Olga says. “The brighter you can make the room, the larger it will feel,” Eva adds, “so choose a pale shade for the walls and add colour through accessories and art. Carefully placed mirrors will magnify the space and boost the light.”
They layer up the lighting You can use lighting to add a feeling of depth to your small living room. “Strategically placed lamps and wall lights will add a wash of light to different parts of the space, or focus on a specific feature,” Claudia says. “This draws your eye around the room, as it creates depth and shadow.
Add ‘original’ features The more you think about this concept, the cleverer it gets. Many of us living in period properties will have a fireplace and a mantelpiece. Occasionally, the design will be more elaborate – like this one by Julie Williams Design, which stretches up to the ceiling. If you don’t have this additional feature, consider having one built, in the style of your original fireplace, and then paint the whole frame the same colour. Now, rather than having a modern, functional box floating above the most prominent feature in your room, you’ve integrated your television into it. A black TV will also often tie in to the black grate in a fireplace, whatever colour you choose to paint the frame. Here, a dark shade works well to reduce the impact of the screen without hiding or apologising for it.
This room follows a similar concept, but shows how differently it can be executed. Here, the team at Honky have inset the television into richly coloured wood panelling rather than open shelving, linking it with black in the table, cushions and lamps to pull the elements together. Storage could easily be hidden behind such panelling, with push-touch or sliding door
The walls are covered in grasscloth. “It has a lovely texture to it and makes for a warmer, more inviting feel.” Garry explains the bonsai tree seen here. “What I love about bonsais is how slow they are to mature and develop. It echoes my thoughts on how to create a lovely interior – that also takes an investment of time to get it right.” Walls covered in Taluk Sisal, Thibaut. Ceiling and woodwork painted in Stone II, Paint & Paper Library. Clarence wool sofas, The Conran Shop. OVO coffee table by Foster + Partners; Eleanor side table, both Benchmark Furniture. Artwork, Sulis Fine Art.
radiator covers
piping accent
panelling
Be cohesive When interior designers put together a decorating scheme, they usually think about how each room works in relation to the whole property. The idea is to create a feeling of flow as you walk around your home by using colours that tie in with each other. Take these two spaces, for example – a light, airy dining room contrasts with the cosy living area in the foreground, but the two spaces feature the same dark blue on the walls. The diamond pattern in the dining area is even echoed in the patterned upholstery on the armchair.
The Old Spratts Factory, Poplar Head on over to Poplar E14 to visit another one of Space Group Architects’ projects. This cool home is located in a converted Victorian dog biscuit factory. The team have brought the old warehouse up to date with a new layout to incorporate extra rooms, improved heating and lighting, and plenty of storage. They’ve also managed to highlight the character of the building by refurbishing original features and ensuring there’s plenty of natural and artificial lighting.
The study is dominated by an oversized 16th-century fireplace. “The owner loves the view and the room’s position at the centre of the house,” says Emma.
Benaki wallpaper, Lewis & Wood. Curtains in William Yeoward Caudle in Biscuit, Designers Guild. William Armchair in Hamish with dark oak legs, Neptune.
A central rug can be useful for pulling together a whole room scheme. Here, the main part of the rug is a similar colour to the ottoman and walls, while the border matches the armchair.
Don’t be concerned if the pile on your new velvet sofa looks crushed – a clothes or velvet brush should sweep it into shape.
Give it a library look Traditional-style wall panelling is finding its way into many well-designed homes at the moment. Here, it’s been used to separate the seating zone from the lighter kitchen behind it. The dark panelling is right at home in a living room, and gives the area a completely different feel to the rest of the space.
Tweak a standard display Give your pictures more punch by adding a decorative ribbon to the top and ‘hanging’ them on the wall. For stability, it’s best to use the usual fastenings behind the frame, keeping the visible part for fun only. Black ribbons create contrast in this monochrome living room, but you could try neon pink or mustard yellow for a colourful counterpoint.
This adorable desk is hidden in a kitchen cabinet, but still manages to secure a prime indoor/outdoor position that any office worker would envy.
Try tone on tone Cheat your way to painterly prowess by choosing a restricted colour palette and layering tints and tones of the same shades throughout your space for a harmonious effect. Interior designers are masters at this, and you can be, too – with a bit of practice. Try taking inspiration from a favourite artwork and replicating the colours featured in other areas of the room – paint charts can help you to find sets of similar tones to experiment with.
reading spot
Paint the furniture If your current freestanding furniture doesn’t fit with your plain plans, or you have built-in furniture like the big bookcase here, consider painting them the same colour used on the walls. This creates an unbroken flow, which will reinforce the room’s relaxed feel.
Create a gallery Missing out on having all that art and culture on your doorstep? Why not hang a selection of modern prints and photographs that you can admire from the comfort of your sofa instead? Choose pictures with narrow frames and plain mounts to really ramp up the gallery feel.
Side table, Minotti. IC T2 table lamp by Michael Anastassiades, Flos
Victorian cornicing
painting and velvets
bespoke bench sexting and panelling
library traditional
panelling!!
pillows
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