France's hallway
Do crystal with a difference Add just a hint of grandeur (with tongue firmly in cheek) by employing the classic English traditions of the pre-dinner drink and the decadent chandelier. The sherry may be finished, but warm glows abound thanks to these Lee Broom designs that turn convention on its head.
Aim for art Art will complete any room, with the placing of the piece as important as the subject. Use artworks to resolve any issues your hall may have. A long, thin space will be relieved by regularly spaced images hung at eye level; a dark hall will be brightened by pictures that include a lot of white, while large pieces will add drama to the smallest of halls.
Create an area of symmetry If you have room for a fireplace, it’s the ideal way to bring in some classic Art Deco symmetry. Opt for identical wall sconces around a central mirror, and matching chairs on either side (high-backed Charles Rennie Mackintosh designs are a good choice; his Art Nouveau work fed directly into the development of Deco style).
Keep it uniform Artwork is a great way to add character to your home, and if you have an eclectic collection of drawings, photos and pictures, the best way to display them is as a gallery wall. However, if you want your display to look more chic than shabby-chic, the trick is to match the frames. Choose a style that’s easy to replicate, such as this narrow black design, so you can replace any later on.
Upon entering through the main door, the hallway with its family altar is the first space guests see. Daylight flows through this pristine and quiet area, which is screened from the rest of the house by an 8m-long bookcase. A tree and bronze domed altar provide a spatial and spiritual anchor for the long, linear room. The water trough also adds to the serenity, reflecting the light and reverberating the sound of trickling water throughout the house.
Blend in new furniture These built-in kitchen cabinets look as if they’ve always been there, but in fact they’re brand spanking new. The space was modelled on an Edwardian cook’s kitchen, and the cabinets were beautifully crafted by the designers. The coving and skirting boards continue from the wall along the top and bottom of the cabinets to make the storage look like part of the original architecture. It’s a simple idea, but brilliantly effective.
Button up the walls Forming a super-sized headboard, this leather-look buttoned wall panel is designed for maximum impact. Here’s why it works: the entire colour scheme is neutral, so nothing shouts for attention; the panel is counter-balanced by the fabric-effect wallpaper, and the leather contrasts neatly with bedding that has a hint of a floral pattern.
Domus Nova Email Save Use reflections cleverly No self-respecting hallway should be without a mirror (the bigger the better) to make it seem larger and – most importantly – much brighter. How to maximise its effect? Place a table with lamps on it right in front of the glass and the light will be doubled. Choosing lamps on narrow stands and furniture made of reflective materials will only enhance the effect.
curvy
The beauty of a console like this one is that it combines a top surface with extra storage. There are drawers for keys, coins and outerwear, as well as a recess for shoes below, so there’s no need to add any extra pieces of furniture.
kinda my idea but in glass & wrought iron...frame the radiator
interlocking bars of colour on the staircase wall
panelling
“I bought the stencils on the internet and it took me about two months to finish the job. I only painted at night when the kids were already sleeping,” she says. painting on walls
If you have an airing cupboard, exploit every centimetre to best advantage by fitting shelves with just 25cm clear vertically between each; you’ll squeeze in more linen than you would with shelves spaced farther apart. Your piles of linen will also be shallower, making items at the bottom easier to access. And you’ll avoid stacks of towels and sheets toppling over whenever you want to retrieve an item.
Painting the skirting boards to match the walls will lengthen the walls and make the ceiling look higher. Painting the top half in a pale shade that matches the ceiling will also blur the edges there and cause it to retreat and look higher. Consider painting the doors to match the walls – again, it’s a statement and it blurs the edges.
Davonport designed and made the bespoke wall panelling and cabinetry in the snug to complement the kitchen furniture. It’s painted in the same colour as the kitchen. “The wall panelling was the most challenging part of the project, but also the most rewarding,” says Davonport. “It’s a bespoke design that echoes the door style of the kitchen cabinetry to help with the flow between the spaces.”
interesting shelves
panelling on stairs
mirrors
gorgeous door
shoe cupboard
The staircase leading to the upper floor is unusual: the risers are covered in pieces of toile de Jouy fabric in shades of green, blue and beige. The canvas of Jouy are fine printed fabrics that were produced in Jouy-en-Josas, near Versailles, in the 1700s and were an imitation of Indian ‘chintz’, which was in vogue at the time.
a handsome, Art Deco-style American rosewood bed,
table was made from an industrial sewing machine
stained glass
oh yes
Securely fix a line of strong twine above the length of your table, then wind greenery around it and fasten in small sections. Or if you can, fix a branch and leaves onto your twine, as shown here. Then twist fairy lights through for added sparkle and suspend tiny decorations to provide subtle glitter.
excessive but interesting idea
shoe storage!
laundry airer
Q